Rome Design Awards

Portugal

Tiago Russo

CEO & Founder, Craft Design

Tiago Russo is the CEO and founder of Craft Design, a premium & luxury product design studio that aims to elevate the experiential and immersive emphasis of design onto high-end creations, primarily focused on the spirits market.

Over the last decade Russo has designed for some of the most respectable brands in the world. His impressive portfolio spans the luxury lifestyle domain from spirits to cosmetics, automotive to timepieces including: The Macallan, Dewar’s, The Dalmore, Craigellachie, Bacardi, Louis Vuitton, Patek Philippe, Coty Inc. and McLaren, to name a few, with his most recent work being heavily associated with the ascension to stardom of Craft Irish Whiskey, a company that saw through dedicated design development, all world records and accolades being achieved within the luxury whiskey market.

Russo has been obsessed with detailed design for much of his career and holds a Master’s degree in Product Design with Automotive Design specialisation. With a whole career implausibly dedicated to design, Russo is the ultimate perfectionist, always focused on making ideas a reality with a spirit of purpose, accuracy and finesse. Mastering the full design process from concept through to production, Russo is continuously immersing himself in culture and innovation to create pioneering, meaningful designs.

Revelation Designer of the Year in 2014 and collecting several awards and accolades over the last decade, Russo has been labelled one of the greatest luxury spirits and packaging designers of today. His design work for Craft Irish Whiskey started with ‘The Devil’s Keep’, an ultra-rare whiskey that attained the world record for the most expensive inaugural whiskey bottle ever sold, followed by a vast portfolio of successful products that culminate in the creation of The Emerald Isle collection, the rarest and most expensive whiskey on the planet, turning into another set of global achievements on Russo’s career.

Achieving over 110 design awards across his career so far, the last 3 years have been marked as true highlights where Russo has achieved 2 Platinum A’Design awards, for The Emerald Isle collection and his newest whiskey creation, The Storyteller, joined by two Red Dot Design Awards for the groundbreaking achievements in designing the specialist whiskey glasses, The Érimón and The Finn, culminating in Tiago Russo being the luxury packaging designer of the year since 2022 alongside Craft Design becoming the most successful creative studio on the planet over the same time.

After dedicating his career thus far to developing innovative, disruptive languages that elevate brands, products and unleash the potential of design as the ultimate tool of product enhancement, Russo has become a regular jury member in some of the world’s most reputable design awards, such as iLuxury, Muse Awards, or NY Product Design Awards, and has now become a regular speaker within the luxury markets development at global events such as the London Packaging Week, as part of his vision to bring back to design communities the creative culture and insights into elevating this unique field of expertise.

New Zealand

Jeremy Smith

Design Director and Lecturer, Irving Smith Architects

Jeremy Smith is the Design Director of Irving Smith Architects, a research-based design practice working in sensitive environments throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.

His involvement with Architecture New Zealand not only entails writing but also underscores his active role in shaping critical perspectives within the field. Having served as a judge in diverse global contexts, including India, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, he brings a wealth of cross-cultural insights to the evaluation of architectural excellence. His dedication extends to regular lectures worldwide, offering a platform to disseminate the practice's innovative work and research, contributing to a broader discourse in the international architectural community.

Smith's articulate writings not only enrich architectural dialogues in New Zealand but also reflect his commitment to promoting excellence in design worldwide, as evidenced by his role as an esteemed judge in diverse international settings, where he actively shapes the trajectory of architectural innovation and recognition.

China

Lichen Ding

Founder and Chief Designer, DLCA Architects

Lichen Ding is an award-winning designer with experience spanning across multiple disciplines and industries, and is dabbled in architecture, interior space, the field of art installations, and service areas throughout culture, hotel, commercial, office, real estate and brand planning sectors.

He has a passion for art since childhood and has always aspired to design for spatial comfort and simplicity. His designs are well received by clients as a blend of inspiration and functionality. With solid knowledge in architecture and interior designs, he started his career working with land developers after getting professional qualifications in his early twenties.

Ding's unwavering tenacity in the realms of architectural and interior design stands as a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. His portfolio is adorned with groundbreaking projects that showcase not only his creative prowess but also his dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Italy

Florian Seidl

Design Manager, Lavazza

Florian Seidl, based in Turin, brings extensive experience to the role of creative design manager at Lavazza.

He oversees Lavazza's corporate design, encompassing a wide array of products, from household coffee and espresso machines to professional office equipment and vending solutions, as well as tableware, accessories, and award-winning packaging. Prior to his role at Lavazza, he played a key role in expanding the Fiat 500 into a diverse range of models and contributing to numerous other projects now seen on the road.

Seidl's expertise in the design field has been instrumental in positioning Lavazza as a notable presence in the realm of modern Italian Design. His creative acumen, honed through years of experience, has not only contributed to Lavazza's remarkable designs but also ensured that the brand's distinctive approach and aesthetic are seamlessly communicated and celebrated both within the borders of Italy and on a global stage.