10 min read
Since 2003, the EDIDA awards have brought together leading international designers and brands to celebrate excellence in design. Last night in Milan, during the city’s Design Week and Salone del Mobile, ELLE Decor editors, designers, and industry leaders gathered for the awards ceremony. Now, we are proud to present the 15 winners of the 24th annual EDIDA awards. These designers and architects were chosen by the ELLE Decoration International Network, an association made up of the editors-in-chief of all 25 international editions of the magazine. Below, meet the innovative and visionary designers awarded at the ELLE DECO International Design Awards 2026, photographed at Milan’s Armani/Teatro by Tadao Ando.
Designer of the Year: Cristián Mohaded
Stefano Galuzzi
Trousers by Giorgio Armani. © 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The distinguishing feature of Mohaded’s work, whereby he interprets the codes of his homeland, Argentina, into sophisticated designs that have a truly artisan feel to them, is nothing short of astonishing. The color of the earth, the contours of the mountains and the sand dunes become his main source of inspiration, brought to life at the hands of South American craftsmen. Mohaded’s career began in 2008 when, having studied industrial design at the National University of Córdoba, he founded his workshop in Buenos Aires, where he created pieces ranging from furniture and accessories to large site-specific installations.
“I grew up in an environment where the art of making things was so important,” the designer explains. “My mother worked with textiles, my grandmother painted watercolors and there were old craftsmen producing handmade pieces on every street corner of our town. The curiosity of doing something new has always been, and still is, a driving force in the work I do.” One of the projects that put him on the international stage was his collaboration with Loro Piana, which resulted in a collection of furniture and accessories and a scenic installation consisting of fabric-covered totems, while last year saw Mohaded present an extensive collection, ranging from a sofa and a lamp to a rug and plates, created for Louis Vuitton. He is also set to unveil a collection designed for Brazilian design brand Etel at the upcoming MDW.
Interior Designer of the Year: Festen Architecture
Stefano Galuzzi
Jacket by Giorgio Armani. © 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The name in itself is a statement: the Danish word ‘festen’ meaning ‘feast’ or ‘banquet,’ hinting at the feeling of warmth and conviviality for which the work of architects Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay is known. The pair first met at Paris’s École Camondo school of decorative arts, before going on to become partners both in life and in work and opening a studio together in 2011.
The research process that Festen adopts ranges from private homes to hotels, from installations to stage sets. Together the pair have developed a sophisticated, poetic signature incorporating natural materials, soft shapes and exquisite details, a style with the ability to merge different styles and periods, always with a touch of elegance yet unostentatious, a style that is both decidedly ‘Parisienne’ and in keeping with the genius loci. The Hôtel du Couvent in Nice, a 17th-century convent transformed into a luxury hotel where they have managed to maintain the ‘monastic’ character of the place, is a prime example. Among the private residences that bear their stamp, meanwhile, we find the Verneuil apartment, housed in a Haussmann-style building and offering a new, contemporary take on the most classic of Made-in-Paris interior design. “We are very humble in our work,” they tell us. “We tiptoe into the context and attempt to integrate what we do with great ease.”
Young Design Talent of the Year: 6:AM
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
Edoardo Pandolfo and Francesco Palù are talented young designers who, in the space of just a few, have amazed us with their ability to combine design, architecture, craftsmanship and recycling, creating collectors’ pieces that offer a decidedly contemporary new take on the Murano glass tradition. From small pieces featuring animal designs to unusually charming furniture and accessories, not to mention their oversized suspended fittings and sculptural pieces produced from discarded glass, theirs is a truly rich and varied body of work. The duo has also collaborated with famous designers such as Luca Guadagnino (on the Frenesi lamp), Patricia Urquiola (on the Sestiere vases) and Hannes Peer (on the Paysage collection of lighting creations). They’re no strangers to the world of fashion, either, having most recently created a collection of glass seats for Bottega Veneta.
“Over the past few years, 6:AM has evolved into a varied and complex entity that combines technical experimentation with artistic spontaneity,” the pair explain. Last year, the duo captivated audiences at Milan Design Week with their exhibition ‘Two-Fold Silence’, their first solo show, staged in the historic former public baths of the Piscina Cozzi swimming pool. The exhibition plunged visitors into the crumbling world of the disused locker room, studded with striking creations incorporating elements of stylish accuracy and tongue-in-cheek flair that traced their intense (and still evolving) professional careers. Next on the calendar is a date at the Milanese Guido Romano pool, which is to be transformed into an immersive experience at the upcoming MDW through a manifesto exhibition on contemporary glass.
Bathroom: Massicci by Marco Zito for Agape
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
An unprecedented design that really pushes the boundaries of glasswork as a result of an intense research process developed in the glass furnaces of Murano (glass). Marco Zito, a product designer and lecturer at the IUAV University in Venice with 30 years’ experience in the design world, is the man behind this collection, with its distinctive washbasins—available in transparent and amber versions—and the uneven surfaces that serve to enhance their sculptural character. Unlike its blown counterpart, cast glass absorbs and refracts light, creating iridescent effects. An unusual combination of experimentation and craftsmanship that pays tribute to the material and its expressive nature.
Bedding: Rosary by India Mahdavi for Bolzan
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
‘Woven Dreams. A Story of Artisanal Headboards’ is the designer headboard collection curated by Treviso-based designers Zanellato/Bortotto, who came up with the unusual idea of inviting four internationally renowned names to experiment with the design of this part of the bed to make it an original and distinctive feature. Among the designs created by Julie Richoz, Martino Gamper, Sam Baron and renowned French-Iranian architect India Mahdavi, in this case designed by the latter, is a geometric padded headboard upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric and enriched with a series of colored and customizable glazed ceramic rings running along the upper edge, resulting in the mix of bright, playful nuances that has always been a hallmark of the designer’s work.
Floor Covering: Walled Garden by Eagle and Hodges for Nordic Knots
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
Inspired by the dreamy ambiance of the traditional British garden, this collection offers a decidedly imaginative and contemporary take on the floral motif. Comprising three rugs handmade using New Zealand wool, the collection has been produced by young British interior design duo Alex Eagle and Sophie Hodges for Scandinavian brand Nordic Knots. Pictured here is Walled Garden, featuring a palette of warm beiges and earthy reds depicting artistic symbols and free forms with a certain wild charm to them.
Furniture: Teahouse Collection by Christophe Pillet for Ceccotti Collezioni
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
A collection comprising a chair, a table, a console and a cabinet and paying tribute to the Ancient Orient and the traditional tea ceremony. French designer Christophe Pillet, known for his ability to convey the natural charm of wood, has this year created a series of designs with a strong poetic element, their salient feature being the meticulous creation of the individual pieces—available in various walnut essences—that are born of the craftsmanship of solid wood, the brand’s material of choice. What truly impressed us about this line was its ability to enhance the simplicity of the design process by exploring the timeless beauty and charm of day-to-day rituals.
Tableware: Silver Set 2025 by Rachel Whiteread for Puiforcat
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
British-born artist Rachel Whiteread, a two-time winner of the Turner Prize (a prestigious award honoring contemporary artists), has designed Silver Set for long-established French silverware brand Puiforcat. The collection, which includes a water pitcher (pictured), napkin rings, tumblers and a tray, was the result of an unprecedented creative process whereby the corrugated cardboard responsible for the delicate grooves on the surfaces of the pieces was first modeled and then reproduced in sterling silver by the well-known brand’s team of craftspeople.
Wall Covering: Le Chemin des Étoiles by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for Pierre Frey
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The La Couleur De Nos Rêves collection by renowned French designer and creative Jean-Charles de Castelbajac is characterised by its eclectic nature and its jovial and vivacious palette, with Pierre Frey fabrics providing a blank canvas for the French artist to portray colorful accounts that fuel a vivid imagination. The collection includes the Le Chemin des Étoiles toile de jouy fabric, its bright colors depicting dreamlike scenes and fantasy characters in something of an echo of Jean Cocteau’s surrealist drawings.
Outdoor: Dream View Bench by Lise Vester for Muuto
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The new outdoor bench designed by Copenhagen-based designer Lise Vester for the Muuto brand is all the invitation you need to enjoy a moment of relaxation while admiring the starry sky above. The stainless steel bench, which is produced in Denmark, is characterized by its smooth yet ergonomic outline that hugs the contours of the body and invites you to stretch out and gaze up at the sky. “It allows us to feel in touch with nature and let our thoughts flow freely,” the designer explains, turning the simple act of sitting into a meditative experience.
Kitchen: Cina by Vico Magistretti Interpreted by Marco Costanzi for Schiffini
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The Made in Italy brand, under the creative direction of architect Marco Costanzi, is marking its centenary by revisiting the historic 1986 Cina model by Vico Magistretti, now also celebrating its 40th anniversary—testimony to the extraordinary modernity of this design. An updated version of the kitchen, known for its clean, minimalist lines, is now in production, featuring even more advanced technology and natural quartzite, marble resin or Sahara Noir marble work surfaces. One of its key features is the steel hood that revolutionized the feel of the 1980s kitchen, with a recessed handle made from the groove in the upper part of the door completing the design.
Lighting: Cascade by Lee Broom for Lladró
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
British designer Lee Broom, who produces his independent designs under the brand that shares his name, has teamed up with Spanish brand Lladró to create a series of lighting creations inspired by the evanescence of paper lanterns. The pieces in the porcelain Cascade collection, which comprises three different types of pendant lamp and a table lamp, are all made up of simple geometric shapes, spheres and cylinders characterized by horizontal lines and opalescent surfaces that really play on the delicacy of the material. The result? A unique combination of the brand’s craftsmanship and the designer’s eclectic vision.
Seating: Butter Sofa by Faye Toogood for Tacchini
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The collaboration between the Tacchini brand and British designer Faye Toogood that began in 2024 continues today with a new chapter that sees the Butter Sofa take center stage. With its enveloping design and sculptural charm, and a softness reminiscent of a block of butter that just makes you want to touch it, its name will certainly come as no surprise. The modular structure features large volumes with generous padding and is a prime example of the designer’s experimental approach, made up of layers and combining artistic technique and industrial production with ease.
Sustainable Achievement: The Power of Biochar by Holcim x Elemental
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
Swiss building materials company Holcim and Chilean architectural firm Elemental, headed by Pritzker Prize winner Alejandro Aravena, unveiled a highly sustainable building prototype at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025. At its core lies a zero-emission biochar concrete made from organic waste and mixed with recycled cement and aggregates to offer a low-carbon, high-performance solution for the construction industry. “This new technology for decarbonizing materials allows us to respond quickly and with precision to the serious housing crisis that Latin American countries in particular are experiencing while also offering a very eco-friendly alternative,” Aravena explains.
Fabrics: Under Way 1963 by Anni Albers Woven by Dedar in Collaboration with the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
“An aimlessly meandering line” is how pioneering Bauhaus designer Anni Albers described her textile creations that were translated at last year’s MDW into a new collection of pieces with a very strong graphic element to them. The sensitivity with which Dedar has transposed these creations, designed and produced between 1936 and 1974, into a fresh new series of textiles created in collaboration with the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation is truly fascinating. Pictured here is Under Way 1963, comprising a woolen yarn on cotton satin and jute weaves tracing a decidedly dynamic pattern.
Stefano Galuzzi
© 2026 Stefano Galuzzi
The award winners were photographed at the Armani Teatro. Commissioned in 2001 to transform the former Nestlé site, the Japanese architect Tadao Ando conceived the Teatro as a unified environment that brings together Armani’s showroom, offices, and a space dedicated to fashion shows. Spanning 3,400 square meters, it functions as an evolving platform.
As Armani noted, “I wanted to create something as simple as possible, but with a value that could endure over time.” The collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Tadao Ando unfolds with a quiet inevitability. Armani’s work reveals sensitivity to fabric, while Ando is known for his recurring use of concrete. What emerges is a shared language—disciplined, restrained, and quietly powerful. The spatial experience is shaped through movement and light. A corridor, defined by slender columns and a gradual incline, guides the visitor forward, culminating in a sculptural concrete form that marks the transition into the theater foyer, where frosted-glass elements house the lighting structure. At its center, the space embodies adaptability, accommodating diverse functions through flexible design. For Ando, the space extends beyond architecture: “I hope the new theater represents and inspires new thoughts and expressions across different artistic fields.”