Design is Human Awards 2025 Celebrate Global and Local Design Leaders

The Design is Human Awards return to the Atlanta Design Festival in 2025, honoring an exceptional group of individuals and organizations whose work spans architecture, photography, publishing, and cultural innovation.

The awards are distinctive for their commitment to recognizing creativity across disciplines. From reshaping public space to transforming cultural communities, the Design is Human Awards highlight how design shapes not only the built environment but also the ways people live, work, and connect.

Atlanta remains a central force in the global design economy. The city’s design sector contributes more than $39 billion annually to GDP and employs over 110,000 people. By bringing international honorees together with Atlanta’s creative community, the awards underscore the city’s growing role as a hub for design innovation.

The awards will be presented to winners at a special event on Friday, October 3, 2025, 6:30 PM — 9:30 PM at DesignStation, 639 Glen Iris Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.

2025 Winners Across Multiple Disciplines

This year’s winners represent both international visionaries and Atlanta-based pioneers:

• Ingrid van der Wacht | Dutch Design Week — Recognized for her leadership in international public affairs and her role as a connector in global design networks, driving collaboration and sustainability initiatives.
• Karl Injex | The Sound Table — Honored for his influence on Atlanta’s creative culture, shaping nightlife and music venues that brought together design, sound, and community.
• Fredrik Brauer | Photography — Awarded for his photographic work exploring the built environment, exhibited internationally and widely published.
• Tony and Diane Riffel | Hospitality + Real Estate —Tony and Diane Riffel co-founded Octane Coffee, a cornerstone in Atlanta’s specialty coffee culture. Beyond Octane, Tony Riffel has over 17 years of experience as an entrepreneurial leader, building businesses across food concepts, real estate, and consulting, with a focus on collaboration, strategy, and community impact.
• Sara Zewde | Studio Zewde — Recognized for her landscape architecture practice that blends cultural narratives with bold ecological design, and for her academic leadership at Harvard GSD.
• Studio Libeskind | Icon Award — Presented the Icon Award for reshaping cities and culture through projects including the Jewish Museum Berlin and the World Trade Center masterplan.
• Monocle Magazine — Honored for its global influence in publishing, setting the agenda for design, urbanism, and culture through print, radio, and events.
• Ashleigh Esprit | Volunteer Award — Acknowledged for her years of dedication and service to the Atlanta Design Festival, helping sustain and grow the design community.

Award Ceremony at Atlanta Design Festival 2025

The Design is Human Awards ceremony will gather industry leaders, innovators, and the public to celebrate design’s impact across disciplines. The evening is a highlight of the Atlanta Design Festival program, providing a unique opportunity to connect with the honorees and experience design’s role in shaping community, culture, and economy.

About the Design is Human Awards

The Design is Human Awards, established as part of the Atlanta Design Festival, recognize outstanding contributions to design across multiple fields. By spotlighting both local and global voices, the awards reaffirm Atlanta’s place in the international design conversation.