The Evolve jury panel share their tips and insights for Designer Rugs’ design competition

The leading designers partnering with Designer Rugs as jurors for the premier rug brand’s Evolve competition say they are excited to see what Australia’s designers will come up with in 2025.

The 2025 Evolve jury.

Designer Rugs’ senior designer Lia Pielli is on the judging panel, and she explains the history of the prize. “This will be the highly anticipated fifth edition of the Evolve competition, and the first event since 2019. The competition first ran in 2010, then 2012, 2015 and 2019,” she says. “The focus is on design and colour, this year’s theme being ‘the Power of Colour’.”

“What makes Evolve stand out for me is the opportunity for designers to have their visions go to market,” says Brenton Smith, director at Bates Smart. “Our industry is about products and, while interior designers get to orchestrate and curate, it’s rare that we have the opportunity to focus on one particular object within the space. This process enables designers to experience first-hand the process of the creative design process, production to consumer – that’s what’s unique.”

“Evolve is pretty special – whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been designing for years, there’s something here for everyone,” adds Jacob Olsen, associate at DKO. “When you’re working within defined materials and colour constraints, it forces you to get creative in ways you may not have thought of before.”

He says, “Knowing that their designs will be up against some of the most talented people in the industry should drive entrants to create a piece of work that is truly unique and reflective of them.”

Hadden Daley, Overall Winner of Evolve 2019.

If there’s a simple formula as to what makes a great rug design, it’s the importance of balancing both form and content, he continues.

“The winning design for Evolve should combine artistry and narrative,” Olsen explains. “Originality is as imperative as a strong concept, so designs should elevate rugs from decorative furnishing to pieces of art. I’m looking for that balance between design and smart thinking.”

Design studio leader at Geyer Valmont, Tamara Rozo agrees. “I’m looking for pieces that tell a story and bring character to a space,” she says. “I seek designs that hold their narrative even when customised into organic or asymmetrical forms, so they feel both tailored and responsive to the space… pieces that tell a story and bring character.”

She adds: “Bold forms with intention, sculptural shapes and organic patterns are alluring when they feel purposeful, not just decorative. Through texture and tone, a rug can carry a narrative we can share with clients, creating resonance and a personal connection to the piece as an integral part of the space.”

Christian Burgos, Emerge Winner of Evolve 2019.

Sophia Leopardi is another believer in the importance of narrative. “A rug, like any piece of design, is elevated beyond mere function when it is developed from an idea or story with depth – something that can be seen, read and felt in many layers, and that resonates with the rituals of daily life,” she says. “A great rug feels as though it belongs; its scale, colour and texture are attuned to the architecture and the way people move through the room. Up close, the craft reveals itself – in the way the weave catches the light, how borders resolve at thresholds, and how it settles into adjacent materials to shape atmosphere.”

The power of a wonderful rug

It may be but one element of a room, but a great rug can totally transform a space, say the jury members.

Leopardi offers: “An excellent rug anchors the composition – a calm field that draws architecture, furniture and art into conversation. It creates intimacy and legibility, subtly zoning open plans without the need for walls.

She adds, “Beyond its role as a backdrop, it softens acoustics, brings warmth underfoot, and encourages connection. In this way, the rug becomes both foundation and signature – a quiet mediator that binds the whole, reinforcing the character and atmosphere of a project.”

The Banto rug from Greg Natale’s New Wave collection for Designer Rugs.

Rozo says, “In our studio, specifying rugs is never just about filling a space, it’s about defining it – especially in commercial workplace environments, I look for rugs that can be scaled and reshaped without losing their visual integrity.”

She explains that she looks for “pieces that feel like a story that defines a room, sparks a conversation and elevates the whole environment”.

“For me it’s less about trend, and more about what’s appropriate for the space,” adds Smith. “Whether it be a deep textured rug with carving and depth for a resi hotel project or something more conservative and minimal for a commercial fitout.”

More than just a prize

And, as if the range of cash prizes isn’t enticement enough to enter Evolve, the competition also offers the designers of the most outstanding entries an extra special opportunity, as the Winning and Highly Commended designs will feature in the Designer Rugs next collection.

“The possibility of having your design featured in the 2026 Evolve Collection is great exposure to the design community,” concludes Olsen.