Though holding diverse experiences, this month’s jury panel is united by a strong design know-how. Meet the creatives who will decide March’s to projects, below.
Jason Immaraju, SVP, executive design director at NVE Experience Agency
Jason Immaraju is a designer and creative leader who believes in the power of design to solve problems, enrich communities and drive innovation in our evolving cultural spectrum. Formally educated as an architect at Cal Poly SLO and the Bartlett (UCL), he has applied the academic rigour honed at both institutions to a wide variety of international work including custom homes, bespoke sculptural installations, set design, retail, stage design, premieres and exhibitions. This diverse range of experience has funneled into his expertise in the experiential marketing field, currently serving as SVP and executive design director at NVE Experience Agency. Based in Los Angeles, Jason has worked with brands such as Diageo, Disney, Netflix and Warner Media, designing transformative spaces and moments to form deeper connections with audiences. Beyond the project work, he oversees NVE’s talented creative teams on the B2C and B2B groups, acting as a catalyst and mentor.
Rene Toneman, partner and creative director at Silo
Rene Toneman is the creative director and founder of Silo Agency for spatial branding. Rene graduated from the University of Arts in Breda, The Netherlands. He started his career as a graphic designer at Studio Dumbar focusing on visual identity development for major clients. Following leadership roles in one of the creative teams at Fabrique, he established Silo in 2007, a strategic design agency specializing in spatial branding. The agency creates distinctive work that aligns with brand, surroundings and people. Its portfolio includes powerful spatial concepts, unique wayfinding designs and branding identities that seamlessly translate from digital to physical. In addition to various accolades from media outlets, the agency earned the title of European Design Agency of the Year in 2012 and 2017. Rene has been a frequent presence on international panels and awards programs.
Jana Kleine-Kalmer, interior architect and artist
Jana Kleine-Kalmer was born and raised in Germany but currently resides in Amsterdam where she works as an interior architect and artist. Having studied interior architecture and lighting design at HAWK Hildesheim, she holds a degree in interior architecture. Her relocation to Amsterdam in 2010 connected her with renowned designers Marcel Wanders and Piet Boon. Before beginning her solo career as an artist and interior architect, opening exhibitions all over Europe since 2016, she filled senior and lead roles at major studios and practices.
Dustin Stupp, creative director at Vave Studio
As creative director at Vave Studio, Dustin Stupp’s design work focuses on interactive experiences that communicate rich and engaging stories. He holds advanced degrees in interaction design from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and communication design from the University of Applied Sciences Duesseldorf. Having worked in various international settings, his projects transcend cultural boundaries and adapt to local contexts. As a strategic thinker, he works closely with clients to translate their objectives into design interventions that engage audiences in impactful environments. Collaborating with specialists across disciplines, Dustin is a creative leader bringing concepts to life holistically.
Julie Payette, cofounding partner of v2com newswire
Combining 30 years of leadership in international media relations, Julie Payette is a founding partner of v2com newswire, the first and preeminent architecture and design news platform promoting projects to the world’s largest specialized media network. Julie remains focused on the highest standards of design and leads v2com’s relentless pursuit of quality projects and the most promising talent from around the world. In recognition of her extensive industry experience and expertise, Julie has been selected as a jury member for prestigious international awards including the FRAME Awards, Architizer A+ Awards, Architecture MasterPrize, LOOP Design Award and Rethinking The Future. In 2021, Julie received the prestigious Ambassador of Quality in Architecture award, a distinction of the Order of Architects of Quebec (OAQ).
Christopher Dessus, founder of Paf Atelier
Coming from a multidisciplinary background in applied arts, Christopher Dessus strives to think of architecture as a permeable discipline encompassing design, visual arts, publishing and scenography. He graduated from the National School of Architecture of Versailles, after a year of exchange at the Faculty of Planning of the University of Montreal. Experiences in architecture and adjacent media have given him perspective as a designer. In 2015, he set up Pli, an architecture and publishing magazine. He’s also worked as worked on the production of exhibitions at the Villa Noailles in Hyères and as the general curator 4th Biennale of the Network of Architecture House. Most recently, he founded Paf Atelier, an architectural and scenography design workshop that works at different scales: space layouts, scenographies, stage devices, and furniture. He refounded Pli Éditions in 2024 and created the first magazine in this new publishing house: JTM.
Rune Ricciardelli, creative director at Visual Display
Rune Ricciardelli graduated in interior design in 2005 from Politecnico di Milano. His work has been dedicated to interior design, specifically installations, working for various international design firms such as Fabrica and Paola Navone. Since 2016, he has been a Visual Design partner and has served as creative director. With a powerful blend of imagination and meticulous attention to detail, his approach stands out for its unique experimental nature, striving to craft spaces that consistently surprise with their unique identity and ambience. The relationship between space and those who inhabit it is at the heart of his design vision, a key factor in creating a lasting sense of wellbeing in any environment.
Torquil McIntosh, cofounder of Sybarite
Architect Torquil McIntosh is an alumnus of Beaux-Arts Paris and Edinburgh University. His ethos, developed in his studies and solidified during his time with Denis Laming and Future Systems, is to blur the boundaries between the arts and architecture. As cofounder of Sybarite, he has worked for prestigious brands, operators and developers on groundbreaking projects such as Parc du Futuroscope, President Jacques Chirac’s grand projet, Musée du quai Branly Paris, Selfridges UK, Comme des Garçons, Marni and Ferrari and SKP Department Stores. In 2019, Torquil conceived SKP-S, a benchmark next-generation experiential store of the future with Gentle Monster. In 2016 and 2022 Sybarite was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade.
Benoit Florençon, photographer
Based in Paris since 2016, Benoit Florençon specializes in architectural photography for brands, architecture studios and design agencies. His work focuses on delivering high-quality visuals that capture the essence and elements of spaces including primarily within retail, scenography and public and private interiors. Before Paris, Benoit spent a decade in Shanghai, where he started his career as a photographer under the mentorship of architect Bill Yen of MRT Design while also documenting the retail scene for the trendsetting publication Hypebeast. This dual experience laid the groundwork for his expertise in architectural and retail photography, capturing iconic spaces like the OMA-designed Off-White flagship and Halleroed's Axel Arigato store in Paris. Currently, he collaborates with prestigious firms like OMA and Crosby Studios, alongside brands such as Louis Vuitton and Acne Studios, capturing their work through compelling imagery.
Rabih Hage, founder of Rabih Hage Architects
Rabih Hage is a RIBA chartered architect and interior designer who has a continually evolving creative approach to serving clients. He sees little distinction between his two disciplines, and always designs on a human scale, from the inside out. Taking inspiration from his clients and their personalities, an approach which has garnered accolade from numerous awards from the design industry. He was included in House & Garden’s 2021 list of the Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects. He has been knighted by the French Republic as a Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite for his services to design. He splits his time between London, New York and the south of France.
Irene del Valle, studio director at Roth Architecture
Irene del Valle holds an impressive educational background, receiving degrees in architecture from UCJC School of Architecture and Technology, building engineering from the UIB and advanced infographics and computational design from the UPM. Working as a freelancer and for large firms, she’s completed a variety of projects in architecture, construction and art, and is a published poet. In 2019, she moved to México to join Moneo Brock firm as project coordinator and began teaching as an associate professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey for the subjects of studio III and drawing and geometry. Since January 2021, Irene has been Roth Architecture's studio manager, where she coordinates national and international projects. The studio has grown from 12 to 46 architects including departments of architecture, innovation, technology and construction, where a creative multidisciplinary team researches, designs and builds projects strongly linked to place and based on the three pillars of the firm: art, ancestry and nature.
Ben Zhang, founder at Shanghai Jielu Decorative Design Engineering
Ben Zhang, the founder of Jielu, has led his team since 1998 to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, deeply engaging in the field of interior and exterior architectural decoration. A graduate of Jiangnan University, he drives industry innovation with a craftsman's spirit, focusing on the technical development and application of materials. Ben has led Jielu to complete numerous projects domestically and internationally which provided a full range of services from material research and development to creative implementation. With extensive experience and a relentless pursuit of detail, he has a unique and profound perspective on architectural work.
Thomas Tse, executive and design director at Inspiration Group
Thomas Tse received his master’s degree in engineering and design project management from CNAM. In 2002, he founded Inspiration Group in Guangzhou, a multi-disciplinary studio that designs across typologies from retail and hospitality to work and living. He’s used his design expertise for welfare causes, having participated in the non-profit renovation program Dream Home as well as renovating the disused homes in Guangzhou as part of a neighbourhood improvement effort.
Eric Tsui, founder and design director at Kingwoo Strategy and Design
Eric Tsui is the founder and design director at Kingwoo Strategy and Design (KWSD), established in Shanghai in 2016, after a decade of gaining design expertise in other design channels. His practice’s focus on combining technology with a human-centric approach is indicative of his values as a designer. He starts from the attributes of time, space, and human behaviour, using design to create spatial experiences that are suitable for different periods. Integrating interior design with architecture and furniture design, Eric’s leadership at KWSD has seen the creation of spaces in the living, work and retail sectors.
Yenny Zhang, senior designer at Nike Global Seasonal Retail Design
With an academic foundation in Environmental Design from ArtCenter College of Design, Yenny Zhang integrates creativity, spatial expertise and a playful, experimental spirit. Her philosophy revolves around infusing playfulness into every audience, creating retail spaces that transcend mere transactions and evolve into captivating narratives. As a senior designer at Nike Global Seasonal Retail Design some of her noteworthy contributions to Nike campaigns, include the Women’s World Cup 2023, Air Max Day 2023, Future Fitness and World Cup 2022, each showcasing her ability to seamlessly integrate creative branding into spatial experience design. Her work is not just about showcasing products but crafting immersive stories that resonate profoundly with the audience.
