identity Design Awards 2025 – The Categories
Here's a breakdown of the 21 categories we have for this year's identity Design Awards.
Here’s a breakdown of the 21 categories across architecture, interior design and general design. Our submissions are now open, you can nominate your favourite projects here.
Submission checklist and criteria can be accessed here.
There are 3 main categories:
Interior Design
Office
Awarded to a space primarily dedicated to work including offices, studios and coworking spaces.
Restaurant
Awarded to an interior space which people visit to eat and drink including restaurants and cafés
Nightlife
Awarded to any interior space dedicated primarily to drinking and socialising including bars, clubs and event spaces
Fit Out
Awarded to the best completed fit-out of an interior design space across all sectors
Residential – Apartment
Awarded to the best interior design of an apartment, loft, duplex or penthouse. Includes holiday homes or hotel apartments.
Residential – Villa
Awarded to the best interior design of a villa or mansion. Includes holiday homes or hotel villas.
Hotel
Celebrating the best in hospitality design inclusive of all public and private areas for hotels and resorts across the MENA region
Commercial
Awarded to an interior space that is open to public use, including spaces for education, shopping as well as cultural and entertainment activities
Health + Wellness
Awarded to an interior space dedicated to health and well-being including healthcare centres, hospitals, spas, gyms, yoga and meditation studios and salons
Design of the year: Interior design
Jury selects the best interior design project from amongst the winning projects across the Interior Design categories
Emerging interior designer of the year
The identity Design of the Year Awards 2023 rewards the work of young interior designers who are below 30 years of age. The nominees must have worked on projects which improve and perfect the quality of design as demonstrated by their submission
Submit your interior design projects here.
Architecture
Residential
Awarded to buildings dedicated to living including apartment buildings and villas within both urban and non-urban settings
Commercial
Awarded to buildings dedicated to work or services including corporate offices, coworking centres and company headquarters
Public building
Awarded to any building that serves the public or is used by the community including schools, university buildings, hospitals, infrastructure projects and
masterplans, airports, community centres and government buildings as well as shopping malls and banks
Hotel
Awarded to any building within the hospitality sector, from large-scale resorts to boutique hotels and guest houses
Cultural building
Awarded to any project dedicated to culture or cultural activities including cultural centres, museums, art galleries, religious spaces, theatres, opera houses, and concert halls
Design of the year: Architecture
Jury selects the best interior design project from amongst the winning projects across the Architecture categories
Submit your architecture projects here.
General
Product design
Awarded for a groundbreaking product design that blends creativity, functionality, and aesthetic brilliance
Outdoor space
Awarded to any project located outdoors from outdoor dining, installations and public space projects to gardens and beaches
Project of the future
Awarded to any innovative interior or architectural project that is under construction or nearing construction phase
The Latest
Wave: The New Mediterranean Haven in Dubai
IDST’s design invites exploration with a thoughtful blend of artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary style.
The Chedi Wadi Safar
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and KCA International are collaborating to launch this new hotel
A New Era of Early Learning
Roar crafts the PIF Daycare Centre in Riyadh with a calming, sensory-rich environment where design, nature and childhood development come together.
When Art Meets Light
Brush and Switch by Sans Souci bend light in unexpected ways
The Importance of Community-Driven Design
We speak to Joanna Varettas, Senior Associate Designer at TGP International on the story of Seed & Bloom – a café designed to nurture connection and community engagement
Finasi x ROAR presents – Made in UAE
For this year's Downtown Design, Finasi and Pallavi Dean will unveil a bold new installation that speaks the language of material honesty, exceptional craftsmanship, visionary design, and local identity.
A Lesson in Restraint
This Palm Jumeirah home proves that luxury can be achieved with intention, rather than scale
In photos: 2025 identity Design Awards shortlist reveal at Casamia
Here are snippets from the evening.
Vote for your favourite projects at the identity Design Awards 2025
You can now choose your favourite project from the identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist
identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: Interior Design
The shortlist is revealed for the interior design categories
What to Expect at Downtown Design
The Middle East’s leading platform for high-quality contemporary design will showcase a curated mix of international and regional brands, alongside independent designers and studios
A New Chapter of Wellness
Studio Marco Piva has designed the Eden Spa at Excelsior Palace in Rapallo, where architecture, landscape and luxury converge