Meet the SBID Awards Product Design Judges for 2021

A hugely experienced interior designer within the high-end hospitality sector, Tony leads a team within SHH’s hospitality arm. He is a creative interior design professional with 20 years’ experience in leading prestigious high-end hospitality, restaurant and residential schemes globally. A client-facing creative and technical designer with an extensive knowledge of the Interior Design process.

Carolina has more than a decade of experience on the design and implementation of high-end interior design and architecture projects in London and around the globe. Trained as an architect, she established her own architectural business in her native country Brazil before moving to London 15 years ago. Her passion for design excellence and extensive knowledge in the luxury global market, makes it possible for her to transform any client’s aspirations into a truly bespoke luxurious space. Her architectural background gives her a combination of creative design skills with a wide range of technical knowledge. She is the Creative Director at the award-winning luxury design studio Casa Forma’s and is responsible for delivering leading-edge residential schemes for international high net worth individuals and property developers.

David Chang, founder of David Chang Design Associates International (DCDA) and registered Professional member of NCIDQ, ASID, SBID and IIDA, has over 25 years of experience in hospitality and high end residential interior design and management experiences in North America and Asia. In 1998, David founded DCDA in Vancouver, Canada, and expanded to China market in 2006, established firms in Guangzhou, Beijing and Taipei, to provide exclusive upscale design services on landmark projects for local top developers. David’s innovative works have won numerous design awards in the UK, Italy, Canada and China.

Dr Ning is the President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts. During his tenure at Wanda, he has led the design, construction and operation management of over 100 upscale and luxury hotels. Under his leadership, these hotels have won many prestigious international design awards, including the SBID Awards, Gold Key Awards, IIDA-Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards, Hospitality Design Awards and many more.

Dr Garaj is Head of Brunel Design, where he also teaches on the Professional Design Studio module, a part of the MSc Integrated Product Design programme. He has co-ordinated a number of live project briefs across design fields, with organisations including Cancer Research UK, NHS, Pan Macmillan, Help for Heroes, Friends of the Elderly, Corney & Barrow, Shell, Ibis and BT. Dr Garaj’s research is aimed at design, development and evaluation of innovative systems, products and services, with the focus on digital and digital-physical domains and the application of the latest technologies.

Gary is an architect with a passion for sustainable architecture and has over 30 years continually sought to bridge academic research, teaching and practice to create a sustainable future. In his role as Principal Lead for Science and Technology at HOK, his aim is to deliver a sustainable future not only in the science and technology but across all sectors of the construction industry. Gary has collaborated and led sustainability with a number of leading practices including Wilkinson Eyre, Bennett’s Associates and Hopkins Architects. These collaborations have delivered award winning sustainable buildings across a range of sectors from Higher Education, Academic Research, Residential mixed use, Office and Cultural Buildings.

Henry is Director of Design at InterContinental Hotels Group. He is responsible for creating the interior design and guest experience for IHG’s Kimpton and Hotel Indigo brands across Europe. Since joining IHG in January 2015, Henry has worked across some of IHG’s most celebrated and award-winning design projects and has led the teams responsible for the design of all new Hotel Indigo properties over the last 5 years, as well as working on more than 20 refurbishment projects across IHG’s existing hotels.

Herbert has extensive experience of working on complex mixed-use developments on challenging sites. Along with a strong awareness of stakeholder aspirations, he has a proven ability to convert constraints into opportunities. Herbert is a graduate of Westminster University and the Architectural Association in London, and the National University of Singapore. He joined DMA in 1999 as a Project Architect and was appointed a Partner in 2008.

Kar first worked with Zaha Hadid Architects in 1985 following his studies with Zaha Hadid at the Architectural Association. After completing his studies in the UK and USA, Kar worked on projects around the world for Kohn Pederson Fox and Louis Vuitton Malletier, with a focus on interior architecture, commercial developments and retail design before re-joining ZHA as Head of Interior Architecture in 2014. His residential interiors, in particular, have won numerous awards and have been widely published.

Katharine is one of the most sought-after interior designers working internationally today. Recently named ‘British Interior Designer of the Decade’, ‘International Designer in Asia of the Year’, and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, her design ethos is both highly respected and uniquely far reaching. Her eponymous Knightsbridge Design Studio was established over 15 years ago and continues to create unmatched luxury interior designs for landmark commercial and residential projects in London and Worldwide for the most discerning clients. Overseeing her team of 47 interior designers and architects, Katharine immerses herself in every detail of her client’s complex project.

With over 17 years’ experience in the luxury interiors industry Letitia heads-up Harrods Interior Design, a multi-disciplinary bespoke design service by Harrods. In her previous role within the Harrods Home buying team, Letitia worked on redeveloping the home and furniture offering to provide carefully curated products that hero provenance, craftsmanship and heritage in helping to shape Harrods Home into the exciting design hub it is today. Letitia and her team of design experts travel the world in search of beautiful designs, the latest trends and the highest quality fabrics and products. Letitia’s design ethos centres around two key factors: relevance to the client and their lifestyle, and harmony of the design with its surrounding environment.

As Studio Director of Wimberly Interiors London, Rachel brings more than twenty years of hospitality expertise and leadership to the team. Known for her pragmatic design approach, she has been at the helm of some of the world’s most celebrated projects. Rachel’s acute eye for detail has been cultivated from extensive experience in the design industry. Having worked previously as a contract manager and with more than a decade’s experience in design management, she possesses the vision and foresight to create successful, innovative and authentic projects of enduring value for clients, supported by a unique and in-depth understanding of technical nuances and processes.

Sharon is Founding Partner of Oliver Burns, a multi-award-winning architectural interior design studio that thoughtfully designs the world’s finest homes. Working across an exclusive portfolio of international turnkey projects, the team has a world-class reputation for bespoke commissions, super-prime developments and elegant spaces that are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. The concept of ‘Thoughtful Luxury’ underpins their approach. It is reflected in their designs, from the concepts they develop, through to the thoughtfully layered details they create with artisans and craftsmen. This approach ensures that all of their projects are thoughtfully designed, thoughtfully built and thoughtfully finished.

Stella is the Co-Founder of AGC, London’s fastest-growing portfolio of international award-winning Interior Design companies. Creating the benchmark in luxury living, the Accouter Group of Companies which is home to Accouter Design, A. LONDON and BoxNine7, delivers world-class interior architectural and furnishing services to the global property market and private clients. With 15 years of experience mentoring and directing diverse teams within the field, Stella has spent 7 years building AGC which has been voted one of the best places to work in property on multiple occasions. Taking a lead creative role for the Group, Stella is responsible for all aspects of brand and design.

Terry joined Richmond International in 2002 with a background in leisure and retail consultancy. He has travelled the world and was based in the Far East and Middle East during the early years of his career. Now a Director of Richmond International, Terry is responsible for the company management, liaising with clients and has a very hands-on role throughout the design process. Terry has steered a range of Richmond International’s most notable projects with multinational brands and independent owners that have been honoured with awards and accolades across the hospitality design space, including Richmond International’s successful cruise ship design projects.

Tim is the founder and leader of Blacksheep, with 25+ years hospitality design experience, launching the studio in 2002. With a background in hospitality and interior design lead him to establish a design agency specialising in hospitality, food and beverage with the aim of bringing a new perspective to the industry. The agency was founded on the belief that a designers responsibility went beyond just interior design; that tailored experiences positively change hospitality businesses, brands and people from within.

Trevor became the Managing Director of Areen Design in 1989. The group now employs over 350 people across 6 offices, worldwide. As a director of each Areen Group company, Trevor drives the strategic growth of the Group by fostering the skills and specialisms of each company. At Areen Design, he leads over 120 interior designers, architects and procurement specialists in delivering fast-paced, large scale projects in some of the world’s most challenging regions. From luxury private residential complexes, to international airports and city hotels, Areen Design ensure that every project is carefully considered from initial concept through to turn-key delivery.