After a four-year pause, the ArtSpace Interior Award is making its comeback in 2025 with a renewed vision: a stronger international team, a new curatorial category dedicated to product design, and a clearly defined social mission. Entries are now open — the interior category deadline is 20 September, and the product design category closes on 1 October. The award ceremony will take place on October 20, 2025, at the Ivan Franko National Theater in Kyiv.
A Statement from the Organizers
Ukraine is living through an extraordinary challenge. The full-scale war has touched every aspect of life — and the architecture and design community is no exception.
The design industry is evolving in response to these times. Architects are helping restore cultural heritage and are actively involved in social projects, designing housing for displaced families, rehabilitation centers, schools, and memorial spaces. Ukrainian designers are becoming increasingly visible on the global stage, working with Ukrainian businesses abroad and partnering with international brands. Ukrainian-led projects are now opening in cities like Paris, London, and Dubai — bringing with them a distinctive vision, sensibility, and professionalism.
Inside Ukraine, design remains a vital act of resilience. Every new interior project is a bold declaration of hope and life. Despite ongoing threats of air raids and destruction, homes are being built, cafes are opening, and futures are being planned — between the sirens.
Today, Ukrainian design is deeply thoughtful and human-centered. It has moved away from formalities and flash, focusing instead on inclusivity, personal narrative, and cultural context. Designers are drawing from local materials, folk traditions, and forgotten crafts — reimagining them through their own creative lens.
This war is not only a fight for territory — it is a fight for cultural identity. Design plays a crucial role in preserving and reinterpreting that identity for future generations.
“The feeling that design — and design competitions — do not matter right now is gone. ArtSpace’25 aims to document and reflect the transformation happening in the industry. And to show the world that, against all odds, life in Ukraine goes on. And so does design,” says founder Anzhelika Garusova.
Introducing Faina Live Design — A New Category Curated by Victoria Yakusha
For the first time, ArtSpace will introduce a curatorial nomination focused on product design. Named Faina Live Design, it has been initiated by Victoria Yakusha, founder of the Faina brand.
Known for exploring Ukrainian cultural DNA through her work, Victoria exhibits at leading international fairs and runs her own design gallery in Brussels. She has received wide recognition: in 2024, she was named one of Dezeen’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Architecture and Design, and 2025, she was included in Robb Report’s list of 11 Innovators transforming the luxury landscape.
“I’m launching this nomination to support creators on their path to self-discovery. It’s a deeply personal gesture,” Victoria shares. “I believe in design that pulses with freedom, rawness, and a sense of wild naivety.”
