Australian Design Review is proud to announce that we are opening our 30UNDER30 program to emerging talent from the architecture, interior design and product design disciplines every year.

This is a first for our recognition and mentorship program, which launched in 2022 with the intent to alternate annually between a cohort of 30 interior and product designers, and a cohort of 30 architects and innovators of the built world.

Australian Design Review’s (ADR’s) 30UNDER30 has since championed the brightest young talent in these fields, bringing them together in Bali for immersive, three-day retreats, which kick-start 12 months of mentorship with industry-leading architects and designers.

Three years, three successful Bali retreats and 90 alumni in, we’re excited to shake things up. Off the back of consultations with the architecture and design community, ADR’s 30UNDER30 program will bring together a cohort of interior designers, architects, product designers and innovators of the built world aged 30 and under in every iteration, launching with the 2025/2026 stream.

What has changed?

Refining our focus on interior design and architecture, ADR’s 30UNDER30 program will offer the majority of places to Australian-based practitioners aged 30 and under, who are working in these fields. ADR’s 30UNDER30 also recognises the important contribution product designers have made to this program since 2022 – as well as the fruitful cross-disciplinary collaborations that have sprung from their attendance. Accordingly, we are leaving two spots open each year to product designers.

Reflecting the collaborative ways many studios around Australia operate today, this new structure will allow for greater communication, understanding, problem-solving and big-picture thinking between the people who will shape the future of our built environment. It will do so while still allowing space for specificity, nuanced discussion and respect for the unique skillsets that interior designers, architects and product designers bring to the table.

This new approach is also good news for eager young designers thinking about entering the program, or who have entered before but weren’t successful – they no longer have to wait two years for their turn, potentially ageing out of 30UNDER30 in the process.

New format, same opportunities

While the contingent will look a little different, the 30UNDER30 will still receive the life-changing career development opportunities afforded to previous cohorts. 

This includes an invitation to the three-day Bali retreat, 12 months of mentorship from inspiring leaders in Australia’s A+D industry, opportunities to build their brand through Australian Design Review and boundless occasions to discuss the industry issues they care about at the retreat and other panel events over the course of their stream.

Entry to 30UNDER30 remains free and will be evaluated by our shortlist judges based on folio quality, in addition to the vision, motivation and creative perspective expressed in written responses.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a short two- to three-minute video that will be used by the judging panel to help select the final 30UNDER30 cohort.

Entries open 2 September

Entries to the 2025/2026 program open at 12pm on Tuesday 2 September. Further information about entry requirements will be available through Awards Force from this date. Learn more about entries here.

Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside partners Interface, Miele, Krost and Tongue & Groove.

Australian Design Review is also grateful to our 30UNDER30 practice partners AJC Architects, Arent&Pyke, BVN, Cera Stribley, COX Architecture, Genton, GroupGSA, Hassell, HDR, Richards Stanisich, Rob Mills Architects, Rothelowman, SJB and Design by WBL for helping us foster the future of Australian design.