New year, new month, new jury: meet the professionals judging Frame Awards submissions in January.

Tom Edington, Creative Director of Experiential at YourStudio London

In his role as creative director of experiential at YourStudio in London, Tom Edington helps the design agency’s international client base to create expressive and transformative experiences that genuinely connect brands with their customers. With his passion, energy and can-do attitude, he has worked across sectors ranging from retail and hospitality to workspace design, and for a list of clients that includes Nike, L'Oréal, Razer, Westfield, Pandora and Mars.

Sanxia Zhou , Editor in Chief of Frame China and Founder of Sunshine PR

With rich experience in brand promotion and penetrating insight into the design industry, Sanxia Zhou founded Sunshine PR, which is the first company of its kind in mainland China dedicated to delivering full-service branding solutions to the design community, in 2015. Always on the lookout for exceptional emerging designers, the Shenzhen-based agency provides comprehensive consulting services to over 200 design companies, including Various Associates, Wutopia, Archstudio, Leaping Creative and BIG. Since June 2020, Zhou heads Frame China, running our WeChat and Weibo channels to reach out and connect to the Chinese community of interior-design professionals.

William Lim, Founder and Managing Director of CL3 Architects

As founder and managing director of CL3, an architecture and interior design studio with offices in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai, William Lim brings over 30 years of experience to his projects. An acclaimed architect and artist, he graduated from Cornell University and has spent the past three decades at the forefront of architecture, culture and art. William’s designs are distinctive, contemporary and human-oriented. ‘Architects have a social obligation to improve urban environments,’ he says. ‘Architecture is about people. I always feel that architects are only doing part of the job – the rest is really shaped by the occupant using the space.’ In the Jan/Feb issue of Frame, he shares how studying in the US made him not a ‘real’ architect, why project typologies should defy definition, and how COVID-19 has shifted his focus towards health and the environment. Get your copy here.

Elena Apiou, Head of Design at Aparthotels Adagio

Holding a Master’s degree in both Public Affairs and International Management, Elena Apiou has been leading design projects in the hospitality industry for the past six years. Based in Paris, she has participated in redefining the design DNA of Accor’s historic brands Novotel and Ibis, organized international design contests and collaborated with internationally renowned designers and architects. Aiming to constantly rethink tomorrow’s hospitality, she currently works as the head of design for Aparthotels Adagio, where she develops fresh design concepts and supervises new construction and refurbishment projects worldwide.

Vincent de Graaf, Principal Architect at AIM Architecture

Hailing from the Netherlands, Vincent de Graaf cofounded Aim Architecture together with Wendy Saunders back in 2005. With offices in Shanghai, China and Antwerp, Belgium, the studio works internationally on projects that bring together architecture, interior and product design into unique spatial experiences. With more than 15 years of experience working in China, he understands the complexity of building in Asia, with its rapidly-changing, fast-paced society and the consumers’ quest for the new. Recent projects include Harmay’s Chengdu store and the Nexxus office in Shanghai.

Valérie Boerma, cofounder of Barde + vanVoltt

Valérie Boerma worked as a brand strategist at multiple international ad agencies for 13 years before cofounding interior design studio Barde + vanVoltt together with her partner Bart van Seggelen. ‘Fluent in space, stories and design,’ the Amsterdam-based duo creates ‘social spaces done right’. Their clientele boasts creative agencies, brands, hotels, residential clients and project developers – Ace & Tate, MediaMonks and Sneaker District among them.

Wiebe Boonstra, Founder and Creative Director at DUM

A Design Academy Eindhoven alumnus, Dutch creative Wiebe Boonstra has a rich experience in the field of product, furniture, textile and interior design. In 2012 he cofounded DUM, a Dutch furniture brand serving the contract market, with Marc van Nederpelt. The main objective of the DUM label is to provide spaces with distinctive items – to embellish hotel lobbies, airports, business lounges, contemporary workspaces and waiting rooms with outspoken design with a domestic feel. DUM caters to a list of clients that includes LinkedIn, Google, Booking.com, Asana and Rabobank.

Giulia Maria Moschen Bracho, Freelance Trend Researcher

Based in Spain, freelance trend researcher Giulia Maria Moschen Bracho studied Qualitative Investigation and Fashion Trends Investigation at the Instituto Europeo de Design in Barcelona, where she later returned as a guest lecturer. Working as a brand consultant for clients from a broad range of sectors – from retail to hospitality and beyond – Bracho carried out qualitative research, developed content strategies, and produced trend reports. Currently she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Foresight, focusing on topics such as urban planning, the use of public space and the ageing society.

Heidi Smith, Partner and Workspace Specialist at Gray Puksand

With almost 30 years of experience designing award-winning interiors, Heidi Smith is a workspace strategy expert based in Australia. Passionate about Australian architecture and design, she strives to deliver comprehensive workspaces that enhance and support an aspirational corporate culture. By adopting a consultative approach for a deeper understanding of a client’s unique needs and cultural aspirations, Smith is able to deliver responsive, human-centric work environments. She is a partner at Gray Puksand, a leading Australian architecture and integrated design practice with studios in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Cameron Fry, Founder and Creative Director at Liqui Group

Furniture designer and maker Cameron Fry founded the multidisciplinary design practice Liqui Group, which today has offices in Brighton, London and Los Angeles, in 2007. In addition to designing and manufacturing sustainable contract furniture and commercial lighting, Fry’s company creates contemporary interiors for coffee shops, restaurants, retail spaces and offices, as well as exhibition designs and brand experiences.

Daisuke Nagatomo, Assistant Professor at the National Taiwan Normal University

Japan-born designer-cum-educator Daisuke Nagatomo graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo and holds a Master’s degree in advanced architectural design from Columbia University. He worked at several NY-based architecture firms such as TEN Arquitectos and the Design Office for Research and Architecture before starting in his role as assistant professor at the National Taiwan Normal University. Currently located in Taipei, Nagatomo also received an A' Design Award, Best of Golden Pin, and was included in the 40 Under 40 list from Hong Kong’s Perspective Magazine.

Oliver Salway, Founder of Softroom

Oliver Salway cofounded architecture and design studio Softroom following his education at the Bartlett School of Architecture and gaining experience with Ron Arad and Condé Nast. In the 25 years of running Softroom, highlights include working with cultural clients including the BBC, V&A Museum and The British Museum, as well as commercial clients such as Eurostar, the Virgin group and retail developer Westfield. From his current base in Waterloo, London, Salway has directed projects as far afield as Seoul and San Diego and has lectured internationally.

Max Strang, Founding Principal and Partner at [STRANG]

For 20 years Max Strang, who founded the architecture, interior and landscape design firm [STRANG] in 1998, has demonstrated a commitment to creating high quality designs with a focus on academic and professional engagement. His design approach acutely considers the future impact climate change will have on residential and urban development in the coming decades, and his rigorous designs thoughtfully integrate with South Florida’s subtropical climate. His firm’s monograph Environmental Modernism: The Architecture of [STRANG] was released in 2017 and reflects the concepts of ‘environmental modernism’ showcased in the company’s numerous residential projects.

Alia El Tanani, Cofounder and Vice President of Living In Interiors

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Alia El Tanani obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Helwan University in Cairo and studied Interior Design at San Francisco’s College of Modesto for two years. In 1992 she cofounded the interior design, construction and furniture supply house Living In Interiors with her husband Ashraf El Tanani and now heads the company’s design division. She has worked on private residences and palaces in Egypt, North Africa and The Middle East, as well as projects in the office furniture and hospitality industry. Her work has been published in renowned publications such as Harper’s Bazaar and ElBeit.

T.K. Chu, Founder and Principal Designer at T.K. Chu Design Group and T.K. Home

An award-winning architect, interior designer and product designer, T. K. Chu graduated from the Department of Architecture of Taiwan’s Tamkang University. He gained experience working for Taiwanese architect Xiu Ze-Lan on such projects as the Yangmingshan's Chung-Shan Building. Chu established his own studio in 1985 and shifted from architecture to interior design. He describes his style as Neo Art Deco, which combines decorative elements with contemporary design and is constantly updated to adapt to rapidly changing aesthetic trends. His qualities lie in optimizing spatial circulation and perfecting architecture with interior design methods. Chu’s work has been featured in international industry publications including Forbes France, Domus China, Bloomberg Asia, and Interni China.

Interested in being part of our February Interiors of the Month jury? Send your application to  jury@frameweb.com.