The Australian Design Centre (ADC) has revealed the 36 finalists for the 2025 MAKE Award, a biennial prize for innovation in Australian contemporary craft and design disciplines. It is the country’s most significant non-acquisitive prize in the field, with a $35,000 first prize and $10,000 for second place.
Now in its second iteration, the Make Award attracted 197 entries from artists, craftspeople and designer-makers nationwide. Finalists were selected for works that demonstrate innovation in technique or materials and represent an evolution in their personal practice. The selected works span a wide range of fields including ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, metal, furniture and fibre.
The 36 finalists this year are Jin Ah Jo, Ash Allen, Julie Bartholomew, Roseanne Bartley, Emma Bugg, Melissa Cameron, Scott Chaseling, Vita Cochran, Kirsten Coelho, Zara Collins, Laura Deakin, Lynda Draper, Dan Elborne, Caren Elliss, Jason Fitzgerald, Neville French, Jess Hall, Kirsten Haydon, Anke Kindle, Phong Lai, Cinnamon Lee, Noel Murphy, Sharon Peoples, Nicole Polentas, Jake Rollins, Jennifer Robertson, Hugo Rucks, Jeffrey Sarmiento, Lotte Schwerdtfeger, Gabbee Stolp, Bolaji Teniola, Jane Theau, Blanche Tilden, Alice van Meurs and Sarrita King, Zoe Veness and Melinda Young.
The winner will be announced at the exhibition’s opening night on Friday 10 October 2025 at the Australian Design Centre in Sydney. The exhibition will run until 19 November before touring to JamFactory in Adelaide from December.
This year’s judging panel includes Simone LeAmon, curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria; Brian Parkes, CEO of JamFactory; and artist Vipoo Srivilasa, who won the inaugural MAKE Award in 2023 with his ceramic work Diverse Dominion Deities.
ADC CEO and artistic director Lisa Cahill, who also serves as a judge, praised the calibre of entries: “Innovation and a high level of skill were outstanding in the entries this year. Finalists have pushed the boundaries of material use and I am excited to see their work in the exhibition, as well as selecting the winner.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
