The Brit List Awards 2022: meet the judges

The judging panel for The Brit List Awards 2022 has been unveiled, and is made up of leading interior designers, developers and award-winning travel and design journalists…

The Brit List Awards judges collage

Half a decade since its inaugural launch, The Brit List Awards, powered by Hotel Designs, will return this year with the aim to celebrate the leading interiors designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain.

Previous winners of The Brit List Awards include, among others, Jo Littlefair, Co-Founder of Goddard Littlefair (Interior Designer of the Year 2019), Christos Passas, Director, Zaha Hadid Architects (Architect of the Year 2020), Franklite (Best in Tech 2021), Tina Norden, Partner, Conran & Partners (Interior Designer of Year 2021) and Conor O’Leary, Managing Director, Gleneagles (Hotelier of the Year 2018).

“Entries open for The Brit List Awards 2022 on June 27.”

The 2022 application and nomination process, which has always been and remains free-of-charge for all interior designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers, opens on June 27 and closes on August 19.

The categories for The Brit List Awards 2022 are:

  • Interior Designer of the Year
  • Architect of the Year
  • Hotelier of the Year
  • Best in British Product Design
  • Best in Tech Award
  • The Eco Award
  • The International Award
  • The Rising Star Award
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry

Before this year’s campaign officially commences, Hotel Designs has announced this year’s judging panel that consists of legendary interior designers, respected developers and design journalists alike. Let’s meet them.

Kit Kemp

Profile image of Kit Kemp

Kit Kemp, Founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio, needs little introduction. Winner of Outstanding Contribution for the Hospitality Award at The Brit List Awards 2019, among many other accolades, Kemp is passionate about creating exciting and unique interiors. The interior designer is an author, a successful textiles, homewares & fragrance designer and respected champion of British art and craft.

Sue Timney

Sue Timney Photo

With more than 30 years’ experience working in Britain, Europe and Japan as a designer, Sue Timney is known for celebrating her own brand of exotic classism. Her work ranges from residential to commercial and product design. Timney, a past president of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), has had her work exhibited in the V&A museum and she appeared on the 100th programme of Grand Designs.

Libby Bull

Profile image of Libby Bull

Libby Bull, President of the NEWH UK Chapter, is an Associate and interior designer at HKS, a global firm of architects, designers, advisors, and makers devoted to creating places that combine beauty with performance. Working in the Hospitality Interiors studio, she specialises in luxury hotels and resorts and works with some of the world’s leading Operators to design spaces that enhance the customer journey. She has a passion for crafting design narratives and collaborates closely with the architectural and landscape teams to deliver bespoke designs that are unique to the client’s brand and local heritage. In her spare time Bull takes every opportunity to travel, exploring markets and festivals around the world to further her understanding of cultural identities.

In her 15 years of experience, Bull has worked across a broad range of bespoke interiors disciplines including; spas, fitness and wellness resorts, high-end retail boutiques, cruise ships, commercial marketing suites, signature restaurants and children’s libraries and play zones.

Bull will join the panel to exclusively help judge the Rising Star category.

Glenn Huskie

Profile image of Glenn Huskie

The Founder and CEO of Artizan Group, Glenn Huskie is an understated influencer on the hotel design scene in Britain and further afield.

Artizan Group, equally capable of representing owners and developers as well as major hotel and independent operator groups, is a client advisory and project delivery company. The group was established in response to meet the need for specialist development, project management, design and construction consulting services in the hotel and luxury residential sectors.

Lauren Ho

Lauren Ho Profile pic

With more than a decade of editorial experience as the travel editor at Wallpaper* magazine, Lauren Ho has travelled the globe, becoming one of the foremost authorities in luxury hospitality, with a particular focus on design and architecture.

Her extensive travel writings can be seen in publications ranging from global titles such as Condé Nast Traveller and House & Garden, to UK national press such as the Daily Telegraph, more cutting-edge travel publications like Suitcase magazine and various B2B hospitality design titles.

Ho’s projects go beyond travel writing, working with hospitality companies (both new developments or re-launches) on their strategy, brand identity, content creation, concept development and design direction to help shape their vision and bring it to life.

Hamish Kilburn

Editor Hamish Kilburn in front of a podcast microphone

Overseeing this year’s judging process for the fourth consecutive year is Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, who, for more than a decade, has been narrating the evolution of international hotel design and hospitality.

In addition to being an energetic and engaged editor, Kilburn is also the host of two global podcasts, including DESIGN POD, as well as being a regular speaker and moderator at leading international trade events and design festivals.

Now that the judges have been announced, The Brit List Awards 2022, Hotel Designs’ annual search to find the leading interior designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers in Britain and beyond, can officially get underway.

This year’s campaign will conclude with a spectacular performance/awards ceremony. Following last year’s antics, The Brit List Awards 2022 will return to take shelter inside PROUD, London’s famous cabaret venue, to celebrate the winners in (cabaret) style.

On the night, in addition to the individual winners being announced, The Brit List 2022 will also be officially unveiled, which is the annual publication that prestigiously profiles the top 25 interior designers, the top 25 architects and top 25 hoteliers who are operating in Britain.

Our sponsors

Tickets for The Brit List Awards 2022 Award Ceremony will go on sale shortly. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss sponsorship packages, please contact Katy Phillips via email, or call 01992 374050.

Main image credit: Hotel Designs/The Brit List Awards 2022