What do a select group of design stars and rising talents have in common? An Interior Design HiP People Award, for one, and you could be next. Don’t miss out on a chance to submit to the industry’s premiere commercial design awards program honoring top products and global creatives in the field—and potentially walk away with career-changing recognition.
Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen at The Mart in Chicago the night before NeoCon, this year’s HiP Awards ceremony will honor design innovation in its many forms. In need of a bit of inspiration? Look no further than last year’s winners. As the May 2, 2025, submission deadline approaches, learn why designers and manufacturers honored in the HiP People category say entering is well worth it. “Do not hesitate for a second,” says multidisciplinary designer Daniel Germani. “Show the world your magic.”
Why Winning A HiP People Award Matters—A Lot
“The recognition has given us this amazing boost of credibility and visibility”
Germani, who won HiP Product Designer last year, says companies take notice of who gains the prestigious accolade. “The recognition has given us this amazing boost of credibility and visibility,” he shares. “It has opened so many new doors and opportunities. It changes things. For real.” Several past winners echoed this sentiment, including Jimmie Drummond III, principal and founder of his own studio. “The HiP Award was actually the first design award I won,” the HiP Hospitality Design Rising Star winner shares. “As someone who started this entrepreneurial journey 14 years ago from my college dorm room, receiving this level of industry recognition is incredibly inspiring. It reaffirms that we not only belong here but now, we have a responsibility to create real impact.”
The scale of the HiP Awards also broadens client reach, sharing a designer’s ethos near and far. “The exposure has strengthened our credibility and opened doors to conversations with like-minded clients who are equally passionate about shaping the design landscape,” Drummond adds. “The HiP Awards stand out because they celebrate not just outstanding design, but also the people and ideas driving those projects. Our work is deeply rooted in inclusivity and community, so being recognized by an award program that values these aspects is incredibly meaningful.”
Jimmie Drummond. Photography by Drummond Projects.
Daniel Germani. Photography by Bernhardt Design.
Ice, a 2024 HiP Product winner for Workplace: Side Tables, by Daniel Germani for Bernhardt Design.
“Awards like HiP help elevate conversations around sustainability, material health, and circularity in design”
Interior Design‘s HiP Awards are not only a win for those honored—they also shine on spotlight on pressing topics, such as accessibility and sustainability. Kellie Ballew, chief sustainability and innovation officer at Shaw Industries—parent company of Shaw Contract and Patcraft— earned a HiP Manufacturer for the Greater Good Award last year and points out that the recognition helped pull focus to the company’s broader mission. “The HiP Award highlights and validates Shaw’s commitment to a people-centric culture, where we are empowered and supported to continue to grow and develop our skills, and explore our passions, and bring the most sustainable flooring solutions to life,” Ballew says. “Awards like HiP help to elevate conversations around sustainability, material health and circularity in design, ensuring we are continually pushing ourselves even further to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers—and that we continue to deliver products that help support the health & wellbeing of the planet and its people.”
2024 HiP Experiential Design Leader Meena Krenek agrees. “Beyond personal recognition, the award elevates the conversation around the power of interior design, positioning our expertise at the forefront of the industry,” says the global practice leader venues interiors at HKS Architects. “It signals to clients and peers that our work is shaping the future of design, inspiring innovation, and setting new standards for how people interact with spaces.” As for Krenek’s personal gain, she says the HiP Award “fuels” her passion to continue pushing boundaries.
Kellie Ballew. Photography by Shaw Industries.
Meena Krenek. Photography courtesy of HKS Architects.
Curate, a 2024 HiP Product winner for Workplace: Carpet, by Shaw Contract.
“Interior Design/ the HiP program wants to celebrate up-and-coming talent”
One of the more unique aspects of Interior Design’s HiP Awards is the program’s aim to uplift rising designers and manufacturers alongside more seasoned pros. “Receiving the HiP Award was both an incredible honor and a defining moment in my career. It highlighted my individual perspective at a crucial stage in my growth as a designer,” shares 2023 HiP Rising Star Workplace winner, Alexandria Davis, designer at IA Interior Architects.
The HiP Awards give credit where due, championing designers and manufacturers at all stages of their careers asserts Andrew Kline, principal at Workshop/ADP and a 2023 winner for HiP Leader Hospitality “In the larger or more established firms, the founders are often the ones credited for the work, but Interior Design/ the HiP program wants to celebrate up-and-coming talent, and even leaders who may not typically find themselves in the spotlight,” says Kline. Importantly, he stressed the personal natural of the HiP Awards, pointing out the lifelong connections made through the program. “Cindy [Allen] and her team’s love and passion, are interested in developing and supporting talent in the industry—evident every step of the way,” he says. “Not only is that incredibly special for participants, but it also really deepens the relationship between the magazine and the winners. For me, it felt like the true start of a life-long love affair.” Cheers to that!
Andrew Kline. Photography by Workshop/APD.
Alexandria Davis. Photography by IA Interior Architects.