This month’s panel of jury members spans different professions, disciplines and geographies, but is underscored by a shared design expertise. These 15 creatives will vote and deliberate to decide the top projects and products during the February FRAME Awards competition. Get to know them below.
Rachele Albini, head of interior at AllesWirdGut Architektur
Rachele Albini is an architect with ten years of international experience. Drawing on a background in classical studies, degrees in engineering architecture and credentials as a specialist of exhibition design and multidisciplinary cultural researcher, her work lays at the intersection of architecture, art and design. Since 2018, she’s worked as the head of interior at the international office AllesWirdGut where she aims to create long-lasting, timeless interiors based on strong concepts. She works on a variety of architectural and cultural projects including the Waterdrop Flagship Store in Köln, Mühltalhof Hotel and Restaurant in Neufelden, the Austrian Permanent Representation in Brussels and the renovation of the Austrian National Bank in Vienna.
Eason Zhu, founder and design director of Fununit Design & More
Eason Zhu studied at the University of the Arts London where he obtained a master's degree. After returning to China, he founded Fununit Design & More, and served as a design partner of Light Mix, who designed the opening ceremony space for NASA Space Center in Houston, USA. He served as a judge for the Los Angeles BLT Architectural Design Award in 2023. At Funnuit, a multi-disciplinary design agency providing architectural, interior, installation, decoration, and brand design services for customers in different sectors, he approaches the design process through the lens of crafting authentic spaces with interesting characteristics.
Claire Luo, president design assistant at Aranya Holding Group
Educated and trained as an architect, Claire Luo’s background informs her mission to cooperate with designers to build and grow livable communities. The management of approximately a hundred of Aranya’s architectural and interior design projects and multi-thousand-unit urban designs, has provided her with a comprehensive perspective on design and development. She’s become an expert in addressing the question of how to balance designers’ ambitions and clients’ demands. This background provides her with unique view of and position in today’s design and real estate industry.
Abby Scott, interior design principal and professional associate at HDR
Abby Scott is an award-winning interior designer with over 21 years of experience. Priding herself in her ability to foster long-lasting client relationships, she designs diverse spaces ranging from technically complex healthcare environments to global headquarter buildings and culturally significant libraries and museums. She works as the interior design principal at HDR’s studio in Omaha, Nebraska. She is an advocate for design and mentorship and is involved in many professional organizations including the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW).
Helena Ryhle, creative director at White Arkitekter
Helena Ryhle is creative director at White Arkitekter, a practice focusing on sustainable architecture, urban design, landscape architecture and interior design for present and future generations. She has over 25 years of experience in art, graphic design, marketing and communications. She began her career in the property industry and then moved into architecture, where she honed her expertise in brand and concept development and experience. Helena is also an artist and has run a creative design studio since 2007, focusing on art, art direction and brand identity, with clients such as Global Utmaning (Global Challenge), Stockholm Science City Foundation, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Hans Brindfors AB.
Ester Corti, cofounder and director at Mitchell + Corti
Ester Corti lives and works as an architect in London. Educated and trained in the UK, she completed her postgraduate qualifications at The Bartlett, ULC. Her architectural career spans across various scales, typologies and uses, both in the UK and abroad. In 2017 she cofounded Mitchell + Corti, a studio that delivers design-led one-off projects where she oversees the creative direction of the practice. Her particular area of interest and focus lies in the research and implementation of multi- and interdisciplinary modes of architecture practice. Personal interests in the arts and culture combined with architectural and product design expertise have led to collaborations with festivals, craftspeople, artists and fashion designers.
Omar Nakkash, founder and design director of Nakkash Design Studio
Founder and design director of Nakkash Design Studio, Omar Nakkash received his bachelor’s degree in design and management from Parsons School of Design in New York. In 2012, he moved to Milan to complete graduate studies in interior design from Scuola Politecnica di Design before returning home to the U.A.E where he founded his own studio. The Dubai-based eponymous design studio is multi-disciplinary and focuses on balancing function with aesthetics. Recent highlights for Nakkash include Villa 85, a six-bedroom luxury residence in Al Khawaneej and the Dubai Mall pop-up shop for Compartés, an artisanal chocolate brand.
Renato Rodrigues Fregnani, founder of Aquadrado and president at Retail Design Institute
Renato Fregnani is a Brazilian architect with a career in commercial architecture. With academic credentials from PUC-Campinas and Politecnico di Milano, he stands on a robust foundation in architecture and design. As a partner at Aquadrado, a renowned design firm, he collaborates with leading national and international brands. Renato has garnered awards for his work in commercial architecture. Beyond accolades, he actively shares his expertise as a speaker at design and retail events. His commitment extends to education, where he mentors future professionals in the Strategic Design for Retail course at the Istituto Europeo di Design. Serving as president of the Retail Design Institute in Brazil, Renato is dedicated to advancing and promoting retail design in the country.
Stuart Fingerhut, creative director at Production Club
As creative director at Production Club, Stuart Fingerhut excels at blending spatial design with brand marketing to bring memorable B2B and B2C experiences to life. His career sits at the intersection of design, marketing, art and technology, emphasizing experiential design and immersive storytelling. He has led creative teams at top agencies and studios for global conferences, tier-one auto shows, and events including CES, Comic-Con and E3. He is an early adopter of generative AI in the creative process for professional projects and his personal artwork, reiterating his belief in embracing new technologies. His expertise in shaping design strategies, fostering collaborations in cross-functional teams, and harnessing real-world insights allows him to craft scenic experiences that not only push boundaries but also deeply resonate with guests.
Cathrin Walczyk, studio director and co-head of interiors at Piercy&Company
Cathrin Walczyk joined Piercy&Company in 2021 and co-heads the interiors team. Trained as an architect, she previously worked for over a decade at Universal Design Studio, leading a variety of projects across all sectors and scales and establishing the studio’s design research arm. She has a strong focus on creative strategy and design narrative and has worked with a variety of clients such as Hennessy and The Office Group, sensitively translating their brand values into design. She co-founded Studio MiCat with Michael Garnett in 2016 with the aim to use design to make complex concepts more approachable and engaging to a wider audience. Projects include 'Non-Pavilion' at the V&A Museum during LDF 2019, and ‘Brawn & Bread’ at Beam Camp 2018. Cathrin writes thought pieces and speaks regularly at events, most recently at Clerkenwell Design Week.
Magdalena Klosek, country home furnishing and retail design manager at Ikea Austria
Magdalena Klosek holds a master's graduate in architecture and urban planning and has embarked on a dynamic career journey, transitioning from architect to a pivotal role in planning Ikea's inaugural store in Ireland. She served as an interior designer in Shanghai before making significant contributions to the evolution of the Ikea retail concept in Japan over a decade, extending it into urban centres. Three years ago, Magdalena decided to return to Europe, and she currently holds the position as the head of retail design and visual identity for the Ikea brand in Austria. In this role, she acts as a creative director, guiding a team of creatives to craft unparalleled retail experiences across all stores while contributing to the comprehensive omnichannel brand experience.
Angela Montagud, cofounder and studio director of Clap Studio
Angela Montagud is cofounder and studio director at Clap Studio. She studied technical architecture at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and later completed her career with a master of marketing and communication at IEM Business School of Valencia. She worked as editor-in-chief of More with Less, a digital magazine specialized in architecture, products and art. In 2017, she founded Clap Studio together with her partner Jordi Iranzo. They’ve received numerous awards and accolades, including the FRAME Awards. In 2023 the studio won the National Design Award, the highest recognition in design in Spain in the category of young designers. She is also a professor of master’s level courses in interior design at the CEU Cardenal Herrera University.
Randy Gonzalez, multimedia director at Moment Factory
Randy Gonzalez merges his artistic skills with extensive multimedia know-how to create fresh visual content and stunning immersive experiences. He holds impressive academic credentials and boasts 15 years as a multimedia artist, motion designer, videographer and interactive designer. His extensive experience in interactive design for live events has allowed him to collaborate with world-renowned artists and companies such as Celine Dion, Rush, Cirque du Soleil, C2 Montreal, Live Nation, Mazda and Red Bull. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on the opening ceremony of the Central American Games. Randy joined Moment Factory in 2022 and is currently focused on creating new immersive experiences by pushing the boundaries of multimedia and storytelling.
Esther Stam, founder and creative director at Studio Modijefsky
After studying at the Willem de Kooning Academy, Esther Stam worked at Doepel Strijkers Architects and founded Studio Modijefsky in 2009, where she currently serves as creative director. People are at the heart of everything Esther does, whether it’s her personal approach or the rich human compositions she envisions. She remains captivated by the challenges and possibilities of crafting spaces around people. Her curiosity for process, passion for craftmanship and commitment to collaboration are evident throughout each space she and her team touched. She leads a team of international architects and designers who provide comprehensive creative, spatial interventions across typologies including the hospitality, work, retail and living sectors. One of her most notable recent works span the design of the fifth floor restaurant and connector spaces on floors six through eight at the new Booking.com headquarters in Amsterdam. She’s designed for clients like Wolford, Museum Arnhem, CityHub, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, among others.
Zhuyuan Cai, founder of Foshan Bosi-tao Design
As the founder and head designer of Foshan Bosi Tao Design Consulting Co., Ltd, Zhuyuan Cai explores the creation of new retail designs. After graduating from the design craft program at the Department of Fine Arts at Xijiang College, he received a master's degree from Autonomous University in Barcelona. He describes his approach to commercial design as balanced, incorporating his appreciation of history and cultures along with the use of different materials and ideas to experiment with spatial creation. This balance is evident in his work for clients across typologies from contemporary art galleries to corporate headquarters.
