Spanning different geographies and professions, this month’s panel of 10 jury members is united by shared design expertise. Meet the creatives who will vote and decide on this month’s top projects and products below.
Paolo Torri, exhibition design manager at Pedrali
Paolo Torri is the exhibition design manager at Pedrali, the sponsor of FRAME Awards’ Work category. In his role, he leads the development of Pedrali’s global exhibition and retail projects. He holds a degree in industrial design from Politecnico di Milano and further specialized in project management at the 24ORE Business School, where he honed a robust methodology for managing complex projects. With over a decade of experience as an exhibition designer and project manager for Flos, Paolo has developed a keen sensitivity to light as a key narrative and spatial element. His approach combines technical rigour with meticulous attention to detail, delivering design solutions that enhance brand identity through functional and emotive exhibition environments.
Peter Greenberg, partner at Ester Bruzkus Architekten
Peter Greenberg is an American architect and partner at Ester Bruzkus Architekten, a Berlin-based boutique design firm that combines expertise in hospitality, residential design, workplace, and exhibit design. Peter has over thirty years of interdisciplinary experience with design and detailing at many scales: furniture, residences, workplaces, restaurants, hotels, universities, and exhibition design. With Ester Bruzkus, he has built up a portfolio of stylish and award-winning projects focusing on the scale of the interior. Recent designs include offices for Relaxound, Beef Club Fire & Salt, shared amenity spaces for Berlin’s Central One, and restaurants for some of the best chefs in Berlin. The firm’s recent workplace design for Relaxound was recognized by FRAME magazine as the Small Office of the Year 2024. Peter’s extensive work with design research and education bridges scholarship, teaching, and practice. His Instagram page documents his scholarship in the history of modernism and it has a large and enthusiastic following. Peter received his Master of Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and graduated cum laude with Distinction in Architecture from Yale where he also studied philosophy and the history of art.
Clemence Pirajean, Cofounder of Pirajean Lees
Rooted in narrative design, Pirajean Lees is an award-winning interior architecture and furniture design studio, founded by Clémence Pirajean and James Lees in 2017. Specialists in private residential and luxury hospitality sectors worldwide, the studio is renowned for creating trend-setting, avant-garde designs. A holistic approach combines creativity and function, delivering lifestyle environments with storytelling at the core. Pirajean Lees’s work begins by ‘not designing’: before commencing any sketches or schemes, the designers’ process starts with investigations and research, forming the plot and the characters within. Since its conception, Pirajean Lees has designed and produced internationally acclaimed projects, building a valuable network of exceptional hospitality professionals and private residential clients worldwide. Notable hospitality projects include; The House of KOKO, Kioku by Endo at The Old War Office, Mimi Kakushi Dubai.
Ina Nikolova, partner and senior project manager at Kinzo
Ina studied architecture at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart. She gained practical experience in architectural offices in Sofia, Stuttgart, and Berlin, specializing in the preservation and transformation of historic structures, alongside laboratory and education architecture. She also held teaching positions in residential architecture and design at two universities. Since 2019, she has been working as a project manager and later as a senior project manager at Kinzo. In this role, Ina oversees and leads a variety of projects for national and international clients, including the Center am Potsdamer Platz, Nike and Deutsches Herzzentrum Stiftung. In 2021, she completed a training as an Agile Coach with a focus on Motivational Interviewing (MI), systemic approach, and design thinking at The Why Guys in Braunschweig. And 2025 marked the beginning of her new chapter as a partner at Kinzo.
Ali Mohammadioun, founder of E Plus A Atelier
Ali Mohammadioun is an architect and designer renowned for his soulful approach to design, where art, craftsmanship and landscape seamlessly converge. With a deep commitment to customization and individual expression, Ali’s work at E Plus A Atelier transforms spaces into unique reflections of their inhabitants. Each project embodies his belief that design should be both functional and deeply personal, fostering a sense of harmony between architecture and the surrounding environment. His innovative use of landscape design as an integral part of his creations blurs the boundaries between indoors and out, offering experiences that are as immersive as they are distinct. By prioritizing differentiation and bespoke artistry, Ali Mohammadioun redefines luxury through tailored, emotionally resonant spaces that inspire and endure.
Alexandra Cantacuzène, director of interior design at Al Futtaim
Alexandra Cantacuzène is a well-regarded interior architect known for her sophisticated design that seamlessly blends historical context with modern aesthetics. She has made a name for herself in both residential and hospitality projects, emphasizing personalized spaces that reflect her clients’ identities and lifestyles. Throughout her career, she has worked on various prestigious award-winning projects, showcasing her ability to handle complex spaces while creating luxurious yet functional designs. As Alexandra gained recognition in the interior architecture field, she transitioned to a role on the developer side, leveraging her deep understanding of design to enhance project development from a broader perspective. In addition to her design work, Alexandra is actively involved in sharing her expertise through lectures and workshops, inspiring future generations of designers.
Vandana Dhawan Saxena, founder and design principal of Studio IV Designs
Vandana Dhawan Saxena is the founder and design principal at Studio IV Designs, a Gurugram-based multidisciplinary design practice committed to creating places that belong. The studio’s work is driven by three core ideas: authenticity to culture, community and climate, clarity of thought and timelessness as a strategy for sustainability. With a background in architecture and real estate finance and investment consultancy, Vandana approaches design from a holistic perspective, integrating creativity with market insights and practical industry knowledge. Her work spans diverse scales and sectors, including luxury hospitality and wellness, commercial, retail, and residential sectors. Since 2012, she has led the design of over 65 projects for distinguished independent owners, institutional funds, and Indian and international brands including for The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Sarovar Hotels & resorts, and Ernst and Young (EY), adding value beyond the brief with every project.
Ethan Yao, deputy general manager and chief architect of design management at China Resources Land
Ethan Yao has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, encompassing design management, project management, and operations experience. Currently he is the deputy general manager and chief architect of design management at China Resources Land (CRLand), leading design management team overseeing greater China across retail, office, hotel projects and innovations. Prior to CRLand, during his 6 years engagement with Mapletree (Temasek Group), he was a senior associate director participated in the design management of the company’s largest investment in China (US $920 million) a 500,000 square meter area of the mix-use complex project. In his early career, Ethan graduated from The Bartlett University College London and worked for 3 years at Zaha Hadid and 3DReid in the UK. There participated and completed many large projects through full design stages across the UK and worldwide, covering commercial complexes, hotels, office and high-end residential.
Ray Chou, Founder and Creative Director of Vermilion Zhou Design Group
Ray Chou integrates Western design logic with Eastern lifestyle philosophy, shaped by architectural training in Spain and rooted in Chinese cultural heritage. With over two decades of experience, he has led the creation and reinvention of hotel brands, shaping spatial experiences for more than 100 million guests. Guided by a people-centred approach, he uses contemporary oriental aesthetics to explore the relationship between individuals and space – balancing beauty and function to enhance everyday life through thoughtful design. Vermilion Zhou Design Group is known for its precise spatial positioning, grounded in a deep understanding of diverse user needs. With a portfolio of over 1,000 completed projects across hospitality, commercial, office, F&B, and real estate sectors, the firm continues to expand the boundaries of spatial design – merging aesthetic value with strategic purpose.
Paul Birkhead , cofounder and creative partner of Syn
Paul Birkhead is an experienced Creative Director who has worked with global brands including Adidas, Dr. Martens, Timberland, The North Face, Under Armour, and Eastpak. With a background in both above the line and through the line creative, Paul has an intrinsic knowledge and passion for creating powerful, compelling and hard working solutions for some of the world’s biggest brands. A Bournemouth university graduate and now creative director and co-founder of Leeds based Syn, Paul has helped build an ideas-first agency that has grown from 3 people sitting around a borrowed table to 38 people working from a custom designed studio in a converted textile mill – all in the space of just five years. Syn partners with progressive brands to create and deliver campaigns and experiences globally, focusing on brand and product narratives. The agency has quickly grown a reputation for its impactful ideas and unwavering creative integrity.