From a presenter who channelled his best Dr Seuss impression to a winner who really wished he’d had a haircut, the IDEA gala last Friday (28 November) was a triumphant night all round.

The attendees at Sydney’s Seymour Centre comprised delighted winners, succinct presenters and a crowd that relished the opportunity to not only party with their friends and collaborators, devouring delicious hors d’oeuvres and sipping on Chandon Vintage Brut 2018, but, more importantly, celebrate the winning designs in the 2025 iteration of Australia’s largest and most successful independent design awards program.

The big winners on the night included J.AR Office and Studio Gram, with the former taking home the coveted Overall Project award, sponsored by (naturally) overall sponsor Miele.

It was presenter Geoffrey Swinburne (from IDEA sponsor, Crafted Hardwoods) who explained to the audience that when it came to public speaking, he’d liked to refer to the plain and simple style of one Theodor Geisel and proved it eloquently in an introduction to the winner and joint highly commended projects in the Sustainability award with a speech that included the following gems:

“Sustainability isn’t a fad to be had, it’s the reason we design — to do more good than bad” and “So, clap for the winners, the bold and the new, for purpose and passion and palettes of hue! Keep leading with heart, keep showing the way. The world’s what we shape, so let’s shape it to stay!”

Haircuts and hands-full

Meanwhile, Jared Webb quipped to the crowd that if he’d realised he’d be stepping up to the podium no fewer than three times (winning the Hospitality, Emerging Designer and Overall Project of the Year awards), he would have organised a haircut. A poor excuse really, considering his success wasn’t totally out of the blue. His practice, J.AR Office, also picked up the Hospitality award last year for Gerard’s. Making it a Hospitality brace for the studio, its work on the Brisbane-based Cantonese restaurant Central was described by jury member Melissa Leung as “filled with thoughtful details”.

She added, “I love how every element is designed around the guest experience, engaging you from the moment you arrive.” 

If Webb was struggling to carry all his awards away with him (a task made easier by Axolotl providing some nifty little robust tote bags for just that reason), the team from Studio Gram could certainly sympathise. Luckily there were three of them there, with founder/directors Dave Bickmore and Graham Charbonneau and associate interior designer Tess Sporn able to look after one apiece (for Institutional, Workplace Under 1000sqm and the prestigious Designer of the Year). The studio was also highly commended in the Hospitality category, meaning it was an excellent night across the boards for the Adelaide-based practice.

The team even had the pleasure of accepting one of those accolades (Institutional) from Matiya Marovich (co-presenting with IDEA Sustainability judge and alumna of the inaugurual 30UNDER30 cohort in 2022, Jade Whittaker). The founder of Sans-Arc worked for Studio Gram before branching out on his own.

Sharing the love

And in another happy note of synchronicity (or presience, depending on your take), when accepting the Residential Interior Curation award for her work on Gruyere Farm, Simone Haag called the team from Studio Manifold up to the stage to share in the accolade, not realising that they would be honoured separately for the Residential Single award not half an hour later.

Rounding out the award presentations was the much anticipated Gold Medal category, with Melbourne’s Miriam Fanning of eponymous studio, Mim Design, named in this category for 2025. She joins a distinguished coterie of past winners that include, most recently, Dr Natalie Wright, Adam Goodrum, and Jonathan Richards and Kirsten Stanisich.

Party like it’s 2025

With the official part of the proceedings concluded, it was onto the really serious business of the evening – the eating, drinking, dancing and catching up with industry colleagues and collaborators from across the country.

All in all, the 23rd iteration of IDEA reminded the industry’s members, supporters and sponsors that, for this program, it’s not just the interior design that is excellent, it’s the gala too.

See all the winners and highly commended projects of IDEA 2025 here.

See more images from the evening here.

IDEA 2025 would not have been possible without our overall sponsor Miele, alongside sponsors Crafted Hardwoods, Cult, Designer Rugs, ForestOne, MillerKnoll, Laufen, Signature Appliances powered by Miele, and Zenith. We are eternally grateful for their continued support of IDEA and of Australia’s design community. We are also hugely thankful to our event partners Axolotl, Chandon and Moobrew, who helped the IDEA gala sparkle even brighter this year.

All photography Scott Gick Photography.