The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has named Lauren Roberts as the recipient of the 2025 Madeline Lester Award.
Named after the esteemed interior designer and 2006 DIA Hall of Fame inductee, the Madeline Lester Award is the highest honour within the DIA’s Graduates of the Year Awards (GOTYA) program. It is awarded to an overall national winner who demonstrates exceptional promise and a practice that signals a meaningful contribution to the future of the profession.
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture, Honours) at Swinburne University of Technology, Roberts distinguished herself through a rare blend of academic excellence and professional experience, having spent three years working within the industry alongside her studies.
The GOTYA jury praised Roberts for her “maturity and strategic clarity,” specifically noting her commitment to addressing modern housing challenges. Her work uses a sustainable, community-focused lens to translate complex social issues into thoughtful spatial solutions. Jurors described her as “grounded, intelligent, and forward-looking,” representing the pinnacle of emerging Australian talent.
Since 2003, the GOTYA program has served as the DIA’s flagship initiative for championing graduates across four categories: Place, Use, Interact, and Convey. Nominations for the 2026 awards will open in mid-April.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
