From hospitality to exhibition design, this month’s panel of jurors casts a wide net across the field of spatial design. Meet the ten design voices deciding the winner of August’s FRAME Awards below.
Holger Kehne, Partner at Plasma Studio
Holger Kehne is an architect working across practice and academia, continents and multiple scales and domains. He aims at engaging practice and academic research in unison, beginning in London in 1999 where he gained academic experience as unit master in the Diploma School of the Architectural Association while setting up and developing Plasma Studio. Plasma Studio found early success with small retrofitting projects and competition entries, winning numerous awards such as BD/ Corus’ Young Architect of the Year Award and Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard in 2004, and the Architecture Foundation's Next Generation Architect Award in 2008. It opened a second office in a rural Alpine area of Italy to realize small to medium scale residential and hospitality projects that update the local craft construction through digital means. Upon winning several large-scale competitions and the construction of Xi’an World Expo, Holger Kehne relocated to open another studio location in Beijing in 2011 and to Hong Kong where he teaches at the University of Hong Kong, among others. Through engaging practice and academic research in synergy, he explores architecture’s systemic relationships, linking buildings with landscape, urban fields, and local context. His PhD thesis 'Mediation and Affect' at RMIT gauges this interstitial perspective.
Daniel Gava, Founder of danielgava.london and Board Advisor to the Design Industry
With over twenty-five years of experience across the international design landscape, Daniel Gava is a trusted business advisor and well-connected player in the industry. Throughout his career, he has held key roles in marketing, PR and sales, and has served on the boards of leading high-end furniture manufacturers in Europe and the United States. Based in London since 2011, Daniel operates as an independent board advisor, helping design brands remain relevant and forward thinking in a competitive global market. His deep understanding of the industry’s ecosystem, alongside strong relationship with decision makers, creatives and institutions, makes him a valuable bridge between ideas and execution. Recognized for his ability to connect people, foster meaningful collaborations and open doors to new business opportunities, Daniel is a catalyst for growth and innovation. His work goes beyond commercial outcomes: he advocates for design culture, creativity, inclusion and strategic thinking. Daniel is an Ambassador for the London School of Architecture, a board member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the UK, and was appointed Testimonial for Italian Design Day 2022 by the Italian Consulate un the UK.
Haocong Weng, Chair at Xuelei Fragrance Museum
Haocong Weng completed his undergraduate studies at NYU Stern School of Business. He previously served as a Product Manager for Smart Home Products Department at Xiaomi. Currently, He holds the positions of General Manager at Xuelei and Chair of the Xuelei Fragrance Museum. Spanning over 7,000 square meters, the Xuelei Fragrance Museum is a space where fragrance serves as a medium to weave together history, art, and life. As China's largest olfactory experience space to date, it is set to become a new landmark for scent-themed culture and tourism in Guangzhou. In his work, he strikes a balance between design and management. During the museum's preparation phase, he led innovative experience design and overall project development. After its opening, he has been managing the entire museum staff to ensure smooth daily operations, aiming to enhance visitors' experiences and promote fragrance culture.
Andreina Villaverde, Architect and Technical Designer at THDP
Andreina Villaverde’ academic foundation and cross-cultural experience have equipped her with a unique perspective on design and project execution that she brings to her role at THDP. She holds a degree in Architecture from José María Vargas University in Venezuela, complemented by a Master’s in International Project Management from Anglia Ruskin University in London. Before joining THDP, she was involved in a variety of projects spanning the hospitality, residential, and healthcare sectors. Her international experience has instilled in her a flexible and adaptive design approach, enabling her to work effectively within diverse teams and respond to the specific needs of each project context. Since becoming part of THDP over three years ago, she has grown into the role of Architect and Technical Designer, with a focus on hospitality interiors. Her work is characterized by a keen ability to develop creative, functional, and client-focused solutions, along with a strong command of design detailing and execution.
Neetika Wahi, Regional Technical Director, Interiors at HKS Chicago
Neetika Wahi is a seasoned interior designer and technical leader with over 15 years of experience delivering complex healthcare and large-scale design projects across North America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As regional technical director of interiors at HKS Chicago, she leads with a focus on technical excellence, quality assurance and design performance across multiple studios. Her role involves guiding projects from concept through construction with a strong commitment to evidence-based design sustainability and wellness. Neetika’s leadership extends beyond project work – she drives design dialogue, technical mentorship and continuous improvement across regional teams. Previously, she led interior architecture and master planning efforts at HKS Design Consultancy in New Delhi, spearheading high-profile projects and contributing to business strategy. Neetika holds credentials from NCIDQ, WELL AP, IIDA, and is a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Her presence on the jury reflects a dedication to advancing the interior design profession through technical rigour, thoughtful design and global collaboration.
Aleksandra Miljkovic, Senior Interior Architecture and Retail Design Leader
Aleksandra Miljkovic’s career in interior architecture, retail and brand environments spans nearly three decades. She holds a master’s degree in interior and furniture design from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, Serbia, and a postgraduate specialization in industrial design from the University of Bologna’s School of Industrial Design in Bertinoro, Italy. As a senior leader in global retail design at Adidas, she was responsible for shaping consumer-centric experiences and driving concept creation – from flagship stores to shop-in-shops – across several global regions. Her focus was on building strong, collaborative design teams and advancing innovation and sustainability in retail environments. Previously, she led a range of commercial, hospitality, and residential interior projects, primarily in Southeast Europe, taking full responsibility for design direction and execution. As a consultant, she collaborated with Italian manufacturers on product innovation and strategic development and she also contributes to design education through guest lectures and academic engagements in Florence and Milan.
Diana Thorsen, Design Principal and Global Hospitality lead at Gensler
Diane Thorsen is Design Principal and Global Hospitality lead at Gensler, one of the world’s top design firms with 5700 professionals networked across over 19 global offices. She has lived and worked in the Middle east for the past 18 years. Passionate about creative solutions in interior architecture, Diane believes that great design begins with understanding a client’s vision and their culture. Her strong leadership skills coupled with her extensive experience spanning over 30 years has resulted in an award-winning design studio comprised of thought leaders. Most notably, her designs for international workplace, hospitality, healthcare, and mixed-use developments exhibit attention to detail, a love of local art, and quality of craftsmanship. Her award-winning work is guided by a design approach focused on human-centric design, creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking perspective with a structured, detailed process. With extensive experience, Diane possesses an innate desire to create quality experiences from the inside out. Her work displays a refined sense of style, with a human centric approach to the business of design.
Sachin Gupta, Co-founder and Design Principal at Beyond Designs
Sachin Gupta is the co-founder and design principal at Beyond Designs, a luxury interior design atelier offering comprehensive design and turnkey solutions, including bespoke furniture, decor, and lighting manufacturing, and execution. Established in 2000 and led collectively by Sachin Gupta and Neha Gupta, the studio has built a formidable reputation for delivering immersive interior environments across high-end residences, retail spaces, and experiential hospitality ventures. The studio’s work is rooted in a modern Indian sensibility, distilling the grandeur of India’s cultural heritage into a contemporary design language. Driven by a love for maximalism, art, and antiques, Sachin is known for his bold, theatrical spaces that defy convention. His design language thrives on contrasts, fusing styles across continents, eras, and genres to create richly layered interiors that feel both timeless and avant-garde. Under his direction, Beyond Designs has become synonymous with a new vision of Indian luxury – eclectic, immersive, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship.
Christian Merieau, Founding Partner of MMAC Design Associates
With 30 years of experience in interior design, Christian Merieau has honed his skills from the foundations of interior craftsmanship, rising to the ranks of senior management. After an early education in hotel adminstration, he obtained a degree in interior design in 1989 and later qualified as an interior architect in Geneva, Switzerland. Christian Merieau relocated to Dubai in 2005 as managing director for a well-known international design firm. After nearly 20 years with this firm designing projects for international hotel operators such as Hyatt, IHG, Millennium, Rezidor, Rosewood, Marriott, Starwood and Accor, he launched MMAC Design Associates, an award-winning, Dubai based boutique interior design consultancy agency specialized in mid-scale and luxury hospitality design. Mr. Merieau was listed on several occasion as one of the most influential designers in the Middle East by Commercial Interior Design magazine. He holds a key role in the industry as a member of the American University of Dubai’s interior design advisory board.
Jie Guo, Business Investor and Founder of Enjoydesign
Jie Guo graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He is a founding member of the China Luxury Residential Designers Club, vice president of the Guangdong Environment Association, and a guest lecturer at Guangdong University of Technology. In 2019, he received the national-level DDF Award – Top 10 Outstanding Youths in China's Interior Decoration Design Industry, and was also listed in the 2019-2020 40 under 40 Outstanding Young Chinese Designers. He advocates the philosophy that aesthetics bring life back to its essence, and is committed to integrating spatial design with business logic. As early as 2020, he foresaw the relationship between community building and real estate sales, pioneering the application of operational thinking in real estate development and creating a design-driven community commercial model that has attracted widespread attention across the industry. He has also invested in and built three commercial brands: ‘S tea house, Niconi café and Joyous · Hunan Cuisine. Through a comprehensive approach that integrates spatial design, brand strategy, and business operations, he collaborates with brands to build a sustainable and evolving experiential ecosystem. Always upholding the principle of experience first, he adopts systematic operational thinking to break the boundaries of traditional business models, fostering a symbiotic relationship between brands, consumers, and spaces.
