| | | | WOMEN&DESIGN BY MAISON&OBJET |
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| | | | Women&Design Awards 2026 reveal the women shaping the future of design |
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| | | | For its September 2026 edition, Women&Design by Maison&Objet reaffirms its ambition to unite an international community of women shaping contemporary design. This year, the Women&Design Awards reach a new milestone with the creation of three awards, compared to two during the first edition, further highlighting the diversity of talents and initiatives driving the evolution of the design industry. |
From left to right : Harsha Kotak, Tola Ojualape, Vincent Lhoste, Tina Norden and Emily Wheeler |
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| | | | An international platform dedicated to supporting female design talent Women&Design by Maison&Objet is an international platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting female talent across the creative industries. In 2026, it continues to expand through a program of events across key strategic markets - Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia - bringing together designers, entrepreneurs, and influential figures from the industry. Through these gatherings, Women&Design encourages dialogue, builds an engaged international community, and increases the visibility of the talents and projects shaping the future of design. These events aim to : - create high-value connections ;
- build a committed international community ;
- increase the visibility of talents and projects.
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Evenement Women&Design, New York City 2026 |
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| | | | Three awards celebrating the women transforming design For its second edition, the Women&Design Awards introduce three new categories highlighting different forms of commitment and innovation within the design industry. Women&Design Impact Award This award recognizes a woman whose commitment contributes to the long-term advancement of women's role in design through creative, social, economic, and/or cultural initiatives. It highlights projects that support the transmission of expertise, foster networks and collaborations, create new opportunities, and generate a tangible impact on women's autonomy, visibility, and working conditions. Women&Design Emerging Voices This award highlights a new generation of creators who are already shaping the future of design through their unique vision, creativity, and ability to develop new narratives. It recognizes talents who experiment with innovative approaches, materials, or uses, challenge established practices, and demonstrate strong potential for growth and influence. Women&Design Industry Ally Award This award rewards an organization, company, or initiative that takes concrete action to support, empower, and advance women in the design industry. It recognizes those implementing initiatives that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, enhance the visibility and professional development of women designers, and create new career and collaboration opportunities. |
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| | | | An international jury at the heart of the selection process The Women&Design Awards rely on an international jury made up of leading figures from across the entire design ecosystem: designers, entrepreneurs, artisans, researchers, institutions, schools, and committed industry professionals. The jury notably includes Sylvie Adigard, TV journalist, Anaïs Carion, CEO of MAD Brussels, Anne Desnos, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire Maison, Danièle Gerkens, Publishing Director of ELLE, Rudy Guénaire, interior designer, Delia Lachance, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Westwing, Vincent Lhoste, CEO of Maison&Objet, Nina Magon, interior designer, Antoine Ménard, Chief Creative Officer of Paris Society, Sophie Salager, CEO of Manufacture de Couleuvre, and Kristina Zanic, interior designer. The jury evaluates projects according to several criteria : - innovation,
- impact,
- collaboration,
- knowledge sharing,
- ability to transform the industry.
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| | | | International ambassadors supporting the Women&Design vision |
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| | | | The program is supported by a network of international ambassadors - influential designers and entrepreneurs - which contribute to the global reach of Women&Design by Maison&Objet. As true representatives of the community, they play a key role in identifying and recommending talents across their respective markets. Margaux Keller is renowned for her sensitive and poetic approach to design, exploring what goes beyond functionality: emotion. This Marseille-born designer, trained at Fabrica under the direction of Sam Baron, founded her studio in 2012 before launching Margaux Keller Collections in 2019, her publishing house dedicated to objects and furniture created by artisans with exceptional craftsmanship. |
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| | | | Chen Xuan (Lea Chen) is a Chinese architect, interior designer, and artist, widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in China's high-end design scene. Holding a PhD in Architecture from the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts, she founded SHISHANG Architecture, a studio renowned for its outstanding residential, cultural, and commercial projects. |
Tina Norden is an architect and interior designer. Her diverse portfolio spans multiple contexts and continents, from hospitality and restaurant projects to high-end residential developments and boutique design. Passionate about travel, she enjoys creating spaces that contribute to a sense of joy and well-being. |
Tina Norden - United Kingdom |
| | Yasmin Alsdais is a Saudi interior designer, founder and CEO of Yasmin Alsdais Interiors, a luxury studio with offices in Riyadh and London. Her work spans private residences, royal palaces, and high-end commercial spaces, guided by a distinctive design philosophy that blends Saudi cultural heritage with a contemporary international sensibility. |
Yasmin Alsdais - Saudi Arabia |
Nina Takesh is a renowned Los Angeles-based interior designer and content creator, recognized for her timeless aesthetic and innovative approach to design. Holding an MBA, Nina seamlessly combines her business expertise with her natural design talent, creating sophisticated spaces that appeal to clients worldwide. |
Nina Takesh - United States |
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| | | | The winners of the 2nd edition of the Women&Design Awards The three Women&Design Awards 2026 recognize inspiring figures who embody the diversity of backgrounds, practices, and perspectives contributing to the evolution of contemporary design. |
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| | | | Women&Design Impact Award Emily is a former social worker who transitioned into interior design and became a journalist specializing in interior design. She founded Furnishing Futures in response to the poverty she witnessed throughout her career as a social worker, particularly after supporting women escaping abusive situations only to find themselves rehoused in cold and empty apartments. Her organization acts as a direct bridge between industries: it collects waste materials from the high-end design sector and transforms them into safe, trauma-informed homes that restore dignity to vulnerable women and help them regain control over their futures. "I am honoured to have been nominated for our work at Furnishing Futures. Our partnerships with the interior and design industries enable us to work together to create powerful social and environmental impact for people and the planet." Emily Wheeler |
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| | | | Women&Design Industry Ally Award Reem Al-Sultan is the CEO of the Misk Art Institute, a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to developing the local arts scene and creating opportunities for both emerging and established artists. Under her leadership, the Misk Art Institute was honored at the National Cultural Awards ceremony, receiving the award for Best Nonprofit Cultural Organization. This recognition highlights the Institute's commitment as well as Reem Al-Sultan's leadership. Through her strategic vision and ability to lead large-scale, high-impact projects and programs, Reem Al-Sultan contributes, alongside the Misk Art Institute teams, to the growth of the region's artistic and cultural ecosystem. |
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| | | | "It is a true honor to receive this recognition on behalf of Misk Art Institute. It reflects our commitment to supporting emerging artists and designers and strengthening Saudi Arabia's creative ecosystem. We are grateful to Maison&Objet and proud to be part of a global community that celebrates creativity and collaboration." Reem Al-Sultan |
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| | | | | | Women&Design Emerging Voices Tola Ojuolape founded her eponymous studio in 2021, after working at the design firm Blacksheep. She develops a design approach that blends culture, craftsmanship, and contemporary creativity through residential and commercial projects. In particular, her renovation of The Africa Centre in London, characterized by a rich palette and earth-inspired tones, helped reveal her distinctive design vision. More recently, her studio designed the Collectors' Lounge for the Collect Art Fair 2026, in collaboration with the Craft Council-a space conceived as a contemporary library dedicated to materials, artisanal creation, and discussions about craftsmanship. |
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| | | | Through her projects, Tola Ojuolape champions a vision of design rooted in cultural identities and in the belief that spaces should tell a story. "This nomination means a great deal. The studio has always been grounded in culture and craft, and in the belief that design should carry something of the world it comes from. To be recognised within a community of women doing considered, purposeful work is a real honour." Tola Ojualape |
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| | | | See you in September 2026 The Women&Design Awards ceremony will take place during Maison&Objet in September 2026, marking the highlight of a year of international initiatives dedicated to those shaping the future of design. |
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| | | | About Women&Design by Maison&Objet Women&Design by Maison&Objet is an international platform that identifies, amplifies, and connects the women shaping the design of today and tomorrow. Through its content, events, and network, the program highlights inspiring journeys and projects that actively contribute to the transformation of the industry. |
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