August 2026: Get to know our 2026 Design Awards Judges - Gemma O'Brien, Toka Assal, Bernardo Henning and more!
Published about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Spotlight: Our Awards!
August 2026
Artwork by: Gemma O'Brian
Hey there Reader,
This month we opened our annual awards and it has been amazing watching the submissions flood in!
Students, graduate and emerging designers have been submitting incredible work and we can't wait to show our amazing judging panel.
Speaking of which, this month we are showcasing fantastic global creatives who have generously agreed to judge our 2026 awards; keep in mind early bird closes on the 31st of August!!
TDK Studio is live and full off industry professionals helping designers of all levels grow their practice, confidence and value. This month we have added a library of resources exclusively for Studio members. Join us if you are ready to become a more valuable professional.
Based in Alexandria, Toka builds her work from the ground up — starting with deep research, then allowing intuition and visual storytelling to shape the outcome.
Based in London for fifteen years, Tina has built a body of work that starts with simple ideas and follows them into unexpected territory. For her, the interesting outcomes live in the surprises — the moments where process takes over and leads somewhere you didn't plan to go.
Bernardo believes style comes with time, encourages creatives to embrace change while staying human, and sees his vibrant city as a “beautiful mess” reflected in his work.
From brand design to fine art, illustration to photography, her work moves fluidly across disciplines while staying rooted in softness, subtlety, and sensory connection.
A Creative Director and TDK Studio Host, Cass specialises in identity design and visual storytelling. Working with impact-driven organisations to clarify what makes them unique to develop visual narratives that build trust with the communities they serve.
For Louise Nothling, design is all about curiosity and connection. A personal project as a student sparked her love for illustration and design, and she’s been blending the two ever since. Now, as TDK’s Cape Town City Host, she’s bringing that passion to the local design scene—creating spaces where students, grads, and industry leaders can meet, learn, and grow together.
Onur is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Monroe, a strategy-oriented creative studio with offices in Istanbul and London, creating brand identities and communications. Since 2011, Monroe's work has featured in many national and international publications and received numerous awards.
We created this online course because our community said they wanted to be able to present a folio that truly tells their story. Jump in to get your folio interview-ready AND authentically you!
Jorge Pomar Introduced to us by Bernard Henning, Jorge's work ranges from ceramics to large scale street art exhibitions in Buenos Aires. Want to see how art can influence a city identity? Pomar's work is a must see.
Isabelle Vandeplassche Kareena Zerafos mentions Isabelle's work as one of her favourite inspirations and it's easy to see why. Her illustrations evoke summer, intimate moments and the holiday you want to book asap.
Design Week South Africa Louise Nothling brought this one to our attention! Onto it's second year, Design Week South Afric will be held in October this year. Check out their extensive Design Directory.
Theseus Chan 'The godfather of graphic design in Singapore, as far as I'm concerned.' - Yah-leng
