Toni Kauppila is a professor in interior architecture and furniture design and a long-standing Designers’ Saturday board member. He has led the jury proceedings for DS Awards 2025.
Could you start by explaining how the jury process for Best Interior and Best Talents was organized this year?
We have developed a well-functioning framework, where the core juries consist of distinguished peers. In case of the Best Talents, they come from each design higher education institution in Norway. And within Best Interiors the jury includes members from various established Interior Architecture offices and organisations. Towards the end we invite international external heads of juries in dialogue with us, also to challenge us and place the works in broader context.
What were the main criteria the jury used when evaluating the projects?
We have further clarified our criteria, even though works might be very varied in their approach. The successful projects need to address sustainability, be relevant and purposeful, and bring new thinking and originality to our design debate. So, it is holistic evaluation, but with these core qualities in mind.
What was the idea behind dividing Best Interior into three sub-categories?
Interior Architecture is a diverse field. In the past we thought it was enough to compare all the projects under one umbrella. But this didn’t do justice for the multiplicity of works that have very different agendas and frameworks. So, bringing in the subcategories is a move forward to further celebrate the great amount of works being done in very varied settings, clients and conditions. The feedback so far has been very supportive!
Were there any discussions or debates within the jury that stood out to you?
It is maybe more a general observation about the great spirit and generosity in both juries to respect and value the manifold of projects that have been achieved. It is such an honour to witness how we find common ground discussing works that are maybe beyond one’s own agenda but still carries qualities worth recognising and respecting.
What do you think distinguished this year’s winners from the other strong contenders?
I guess out of the many qualities we found the ones that are somewhat more holistically, and even in surprising ways, contributing to discourse to push our fields further.
What role do you believe the DS Awards play in supporting and shaping Norwegian and Nordic design?
I want to believe that these awards do play a cardinal role in Norwegian field. On one hand it motivates the individuals to get recognition for their achievements as there are not many other forums like this in Norway. And, for the peers and public to witness the great works that have been made. But maybe more than anything, to have a biannual status check; where are we and where should we be heading. This can be achieved by the awards themselves, but also on the internal and public debate that the awards then trigger.
And the winners are:
Best Interior 2025 Public: Čoarvemátta – Snøhetta and Cadi
Best Interior 2025 Commercial: LILLØY Lindenberg – Vera & Kyte
Best Interior 2025 Residential: Mor Åses vei 42 – Smau Arkitektur
Best Talent 2025 First Prize: 3X4AMP40 – Gaute Angen Hestad
Best Talent 2025 Second Prize: Pinocchio – Einar Rosenhaug Bjørset
Best Talent 2025 Third Prize: En hånd, takk – Marie Viola Fjelde
Source of information:
https://www.designerssaturday.no/en/news/ds-awards-2025
About Designers’ Saturday
Designers’ Saturday is Norway’s largest and most important meeting place for design and interior architecture. The biennale has been held in Oslo since 1986 and gathers thousands of professionals and exhibitors every other year for three days of inspiration, knowledge sharing, and networking. With free shuttle buses connecting ten curated exhibition stops across the city and a rich professional program, Designers’ Saturday is a unique platform to experience the best of Norwegian and international design.