2025 LOUISVILLE LEXINGTON INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
We are pleased to announce the return of the Kentucky Design Awards, honoring excellence in design and celebrating the Louisville Lexington City Center. This year’s event will be held at the iconic Speed Art Museum in Old Louisville on October 23rd. We hope you will join us for an evening of recognition and inspiration.
October 23, 2025
Important Dates
June 2 | Event Ticket Sales Open
June 2 | Call for Entry Opens, Member Award Nomination Opens
August 15 | Call for Entry Closes, Member Award Nomination Closes
September 15 | Student Submission Closes
October 15 | Call for Sponsorship Closes
October 23 | Kentucky Design Awards Ceremony
Project Submissions
Member Nominations
Panel of Jurors
Bruce Hannah
Professor Emeritus Pratt Institute, School of Design Visiting Lecturer at CITY TECH, CUNY
Hannah graduated for Pratt Institute in 1963. From 1967-76 he collaborated with Andrew Morrison on Suspension Seating, Office Chairs, Daybeds, Tables, for Knoll. 1976 Hannah established Hannah Design, designing The Hannah Desk System, Takara Dental Chairs, Falcon Stacking Chairs, and The Keyboard Support. 1990 the Hannah Desk System was named Design of the Decade by IDSA. 1992 Hannah named 1st Designer in Residence, Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum. 1993 Hannah awarded Bronze Apple by IDSA of NYC, for the design conference “Access to Daily Living” 1997 Wiley publishes “Access By Design” a primer on Universal Design. 1998 Bruce receives IDSA National Design Education Award. 2000 awarded Federal Presidential Design Achievement Award for the exhibition "Unlimited By Design.” 2004 Wiley publishes Becoming a Product Designer. 2004 Bruce received The Rowena Reed Kostellow Award for his contribution to design education. 2006 Unlimited by Design named one of the 12 most influential exhibits by Metropolis Magazine.
2007 Niles Eldredge a paleontologist at Museum of Natural History names The Hannah Principle. The Principle suggests that artifacts should be looked at in the context of the community they were created. 2015, Hannah lectures at Tsinghua University, China, teaching a course based on a new book, 10,000 Thinks.2016 Hannah keynotes BID, Spain, lectures at Universidad Europea, Spain. Hannah publishes “Stories” that define my life and work. Professor Emeritus at Pratt Institute. Drop Leaf Tables and a flock of Wing Back Chairs. Hannah publishes, “Design is A Performing Art.” 2022 Hannah is working, with a NYC production company on a Podcast about design titled Design Mysteries with Bruce Hannah & Healthy by Design with Alecia Wesner
In 2023 Bruce along with his colleagues, Jenie Fu, Andy Zhang & Masa Nakamura, starts to create a new Industrial Design Program at City Tech.
In 2024 Knoll re-introduces The Hannah-Morrison Office Chair 50 years after its introduction.
Catrina Cook is a dynamic leader dedicated to mentorship, professional development and fostering a thriving workplace culture at RDG Planning & Design. Upon joining RDG in 2017, Catrina helped establish its St. Louis office and, in the time since, has been instrumental in expanding RDG’s presence and impact in the region.
After practicing as an interior designer for over 20 years, her passion for people led her to transition into a leadership role at RDG focused on firm-wide talent and culture initiatives, including talent acquisition, employee engagement and professional development.
As someone who believes fiercely in the power of passing it on, Catrina has devoted significant time to mentoring the next generation. Since 2010, she has served as an adjunct instructor at Maryville University, where she also helped establish and lead the Connect ID Student Mentorship Program, and as a co-instructor for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture’s fourth-year collaborative studio. Catrina has also served on the Society for Marketing Professional Services St. Louis board, where she’s held multiple leadership roles, including president and educational program director.
Catrina’s passion for mentorship is encapsulated in a recent feature article, Bridging Generations Through Mentorship, which you can view here: https://rdgusa.com/news/bridging-generations-through-mentorship.
Catrina Cook
Principal
RDG Planning & Design
Dani Hann
Dani Hann, IIDA, is an Interior Designer and Associate Vice President with CannonDesign in St. Louis. Dani has built her reputation on meticulous attention to detail, fostering enduring client partnerships, and delivering innovative solutions. With over a decade of experience, Dani specializes in crafting transformative spaces that align seamlessly with clients' business objectives and project aspirations. Her collaborative approach ensures that every interior she creates is both functional and inviting, promoting productivity and collaboration.
Dani served on the IIDA Gateway Chapter Board of Directors from 2019 to 2023 with her most recent position as Immediate Past President. As part of the Gateway Chapter, Dani values her time mentoring students and the next generation of interior designers. Her passion goes beyond creating meaningful spaces to encouraging others to reach their full potential. Dani was recognized as the IIDA Member of the Year for 2023 for her dedication to her local IIDA chapter and design community.
Associate Vice President
CannonDesign
Jack Weber, IIDA, MCR, LEED AP
Jack is a design leader and a senior vice president at Gresham Smith specializing in consulting for strategy development, research and design for new and innovative workplaces. Jack spends most of the time as a project executive, workplace strategist and firmwide design leader, bringing over 35 years of experience at creating value for businesses through the design of inspirational work environments that align client organizational culture and vision.
Jack continues to work throughout the US with clients such as the AFL-CIO, Amazon, Deloitte, Asurion, Cracker Barrel, Deloitte, GSA, Geodis, Jackson, LifeWay, Louisiana Pacific, Nissan, Schneider Electric, TVA, Universal Music and Willis Towers Watson. Jack works in all phases of design from strategic/master planning, workplace strategy, programming, schematic and prototype design, project management, branded environments, product design and marketing.
Jack continues to work with both small and large clients at developing integrated design solutions that maximize employee mobility, engagement and productivity while increasing real estate efficiencies for their organizations. Jack’s passion is centered around the ever-changing workplace, and how organizations can build a new workplace platform that allows employees to thrive.
Jack speaks regularly to internal client groups, CoreNet, IIDA, IFMA, NAIOP, SIOP and other industry audiences about the strategies for new ways of working.
Sr. VP/Workplace Practice Leader
Gresham Smith
Nicole Tiessen
Principal Interior Designer
aodbt architecture + interior design
Nicole is the Principal Interior Designer at aodbt architecture + interior design and provides leadership to the interior design team at aodbt. Having joined the firm in 2006, she has been a partner of the firm since 2010. Nicole has a diverse portfolio spanning educational, healthcare, institutional, corporate commercial, multi-family residential, and hospitality projects. Her commitment to design excellence and attention to detail are evident in every project she is engaged with. She prioritizes originality, design excellence, and personalized client service; she is diligent about building trust by actively listening to clients and offering innovative solutions tailored to their needs. Nicole’s engaging communication style, passion, and dedication to her work assure clients that she is always focused on creating exceptional environments that deliver on their objectives. Beyond her role at aodbt, Nicole contributes her expertise as a Registered Member of the Interior Designers Association of Saskatchewan (IDAS) and volunteers with the international non-profit – the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) on both Board Leadership Taskforce and Exam Development Committees. Nicole is a graduate of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Bachelor of Interior Design) in Vancouver, BC and attended both the University of Saskatchewan and West Virginia University.
SPEED ART MUSEUM
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This years event will be hosted at the Speed Art Museum—a cornerstone of Kentucky’s cultural landscape since 1927. Originally founded as the J.B. Speed Memorial Museum and affectionately known as The Speed, this Louisville landmark is the state’s oldest and largest art museum, drawing over 180,000 visitors annually.
Nestled next to the University of Louisville, The Speed is more than a museum—it’s a vibrant hub of artistic exploration. From classical masterpieces to bold contemporary works, the collection spans continents and centuries, with standout pieces from the Netherlands, France, Italy, and a powerful representation of Native American and African art.
Whether you're an art aficionado or simply art-curious, The Speed offers something for everyone. Come celebrate with us in a space where history, imagination, and innovation meet!