The NY Product Design Awards was launched to honor the efforts of talented product designers, design teams, and manufacturers from all over the world, whose designs have made daily living that much better with their practical and ingenious creations.
Recognizing that excellence exists in various forms in the design industry, the NY Product Design Awards intends to celebrate excellence in all its facets that are found in design work and its designers.
A well-thought-out design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and all-in-all improves one’s daily life. Said designs can stem from different people’s personal projects, commercial engagements or researches. To the NY Product Design Awards, these are the individuals we wish to honor.
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Meet the world-class creatives, designers, and experts who formed the NY Product Design Awards jury panel.
The Awards is judged by members of the IAA Judging Council, a group of leading industry professionals. Showcase your brilliant projects and capture the attention of our esteemed panel of judges today!
Australia
Alexandre Collares
Creative Art Director, Ogilvy Australia
Alexandre de Mello Collares is a prominent creative art director of Ogilvy Australia. Collares possesses more than a decade of experience in the advertising industry, having worked in both large and mid-sized agencies in the Australian and Brazilian markets, including DDB, McCann, Geometry Global, and Fox Sports, among others. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed clients such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Fox Sports, SC Johnson, Westpac, and numerous others, allowing him to accumulate knowledge and exchange insights with a diverse and talented group of professionals. He remains consistently focused and self-motivated, excelling both individually and in teamwork. With a profound passion for creative ideas and meticulous execution, he anticipates that his finest project is yet to come.
Bulgaria
Vasil Velchev
Media & Product Life Cycle Manager, Europe, Ideal Standard International NV
Despite earning a master's degree in electrical engineering, Vasil Velchev has amassed over a decade of experience as a graphic designer within global organizations. Initially, his foray into product design was more of a hobby, but as his creations gained international recognition and garnered awards, his confidence in his ideas grew.
Several years ago, He initiated the MAGMA project, a platform aimed at consolidating his diverse creations under one umbrella. The project's name is symbolic, representing the designer's belief that every original idea should remain in a constant "liquid" state, continuously evolving to explore its full potential and staying vibrant until it transforms into a tangible product.
Velchev also serves as a valued member of the Grand Jury for prestigious awards. His remarkable talent has earned him approximately 25 international awards across various categories, with a primary focus on furniture design, recognized by design awards worldwide.
United States
Yafei Zhang
Associate Principal / BIM Lead / Adjunct Professor, Kohn Pedersen Fox; Kean University
Yafei Zhang, AIA, LEED AP, is a licensed New Jersey architect and Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) with over a decade of experience leading corporate interiors and mixed-use projects from concept through construction. Yafei’s expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and design development to construction and post-occupancy evaluation. She leads multidisciplinary consultant teams to deliver high-performance, sustainable interiors for leading corporate clients, including Meta, ensuring projects meet design, budget, and schedule goals. Her notable projects include Meta 50 Hudson Yards, the Bund Fosun Center, and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation, reflecting her ability to turn complex requirements into cohesive, high-performing spaces. With strong expertise in Revit and BIM-driven workflows, Yafei drives project efficiency through data-informed coordination and delivery. She also serves as National Education Lead (North America) and Regional Lead (New York) for Women in BIM, advocating for leadership diversity and innovation across the AEC industry.
Ava: A Symbol of Design Excellence & Creation
Inspired by Galatea, a statue carved of ivory coming to life, the statuette is shaped in the form of a female humanoid, with elements that strongly affirms its non-biological origins. The statuette is titled “Ava”, a variation of Eve, the first woman found in Abrahamic religions. Eve came to be as soon as life was breathed into her. In that regard, we recognize that designers are able to breathe life into their works, and give way to something truly great. The design of the statuette is aimed to invoke a sense of pristine clarity with its frame clad in ivory white, while its golden embellishments effectively communicate a sense of elegance and divinity. All of these elements culminate in symbols of excellence, creation, and the unbounded future that is in store. Much like Pygmalion – the sculptor of Galatea, whose excellence shaped his future, we too hope that this statuette symbolizes designers whose works shape the path they walk in their own futures.
“ Winning the award has definitely brought a new level of attention to both the product and the team behind it. Internally, it gave everyone a boost—we’ve always believed in what we were building, but having that belief recognized by others just adds more energy and confidence to what we do next. ”
~ Pooya Zonooz - Chief Product Officer at Multi Ways Intl.
“ It's an incredible honor. Such awards confirm our team's efforts and highlight the enthusiasm and ideas that go into each product. They are a tribute to all those who contributed to the development of these games. ”
~ Adam Sblendorio | VP of Product at The Op Games
“ Being recognized by the NY Product Design Awards means so much to me—not just as a designer, but as someone who has poured years of heart, time, and belief into a vision that started from scratch. ”
~ Krittika Bhekasut - Founder of SPIN
“ Being recognized by the NY Product Design Awards is an incredible honor. It validates our commitment to creativity, quality, and thoughtful innovation. It’s also a sign that our work resonates globally, and that fuels our drive to keep pushing boundaries and crafting designs that truly matter to people. ”
~ Ronny Gobbo - CEO of Mobili Fiver
“ It’s incredibly meaningful to be recognized alongside so many talented designers. For us, this award validates our belief that architectural elements—like a fireplace mantel—can be both functional and sculptural. It’s a reminder that thoughtful, well-crafted design has a place at every scale. ”
~ Eddie Maestri - Founder of Maestri Studio
NY PRODUCT Design AWARDS IS AN IAA COMPETITION
International Awards Associate (IAA) is a group of industry innovators, creators, designers and communications professionals, deeply committed to advance the industry internationally by means of discovering and recognizing talented product designers, whose works have improved the daily lives of people.
