Link to Iris van Herpen – Fashion designer;Maria Grazia Chiuri – Chief Creative Officer, Fendi (from 2025); former Creative Director of Dior Women (2016–2025);Jonathan Anderson – Creative Director, Dior (from 2025); founder of JW Anderson;Nendo / Oki Sato – Design studio;Faye Toogood – Designer (Studio Toogood)are the personalities selected in this categoryIris van Herpen – Fashion designer;
Maria Grazia Chiuri – Chief Creative Officer, Fendi (from 2025); former Creative Director of Dior Women (2016–2025);
Jonathan Anderson – Creative Director, Dior (from 2025); founder of JW Anderson;
Nendo / Oki Sato – Design studio;
Faye Toogood – Designer (Studio Toogood)
are the personalities selected in this category
The DESIGNER OF THE YEAR section of the 2025 Aurora Awards is dedicated to design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. Within the editorial framework of Associated Medias, each category functions as an observatory: it does not merely capture success, but measures the quality of decision-making and the ability to translate a vision into verifiable execution.
Within this scope, the evaluation considered indicators such as innovation in visual and formal languages, materials research, rigor, impact on the industry, and vision—interpreted in light of the 2025 context, marked by technological acceleration, a growing demand for trust, and the need for new syntheses between innovation and social cohesion.
The personalities selected in this category are therefore not simply witnesses of their time, but active interpreters of it—capable of taking risks, building alliances, and leaving a recognizable imprint on institutions, markets, or the collective imagination. This section is conceived as a map of trajectories: it identifies responsibilities, decisions, and outcomes that, in the short and long term, reshape the horizon of what we consider possible.
In 2025, the simultaneous pressure of energy transition, technological change, and social polarization makes leadership that can combine expertise, prudence, and courage especially valuable. The evaluation integrates qualitative and quantitative dimensions: continuity of execution, quality of governance, ability to generate trust, and capacity to consolidate open and inclusive ecosystems. The selection by the Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias stems from continuous observation, comparative analysis, and source verification, with the aim of distinguishing events from evidence and notoriety from structural impact. The criterion is not mere performance, but the capacity to produce change: in institutions, markets, communities, and in the languages through which we narrate reality.
Link to Iris van Herpen
Iris van Herpen
Fashion designer
Link to Profile OverviewProfile Overview
• Role in 2025: Fashion designer
• Sphere of influence: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
• Context note: Pioneer of the dialogue between fashion, science, and new technologies
• Keywords: experimentation; craft and technology; avant-garde; materials; research
• Distinctive contribution: Innovation in design language, bridging research, industry, and material culture
Link to Award RationaleAward Rationale
The Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias award Iris van Herpen the Aurora Award 2025 – DESIGNER OF THE YEAR for design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. The award comes in a year that has made leadership evaluation more demanding: interpreting change is no longer enough—one must govern it with method, transparency, and the ability to generate trust.
In 2025, Iris van Herpen worked as a fashion designer, assuming responsibilities that affect people, institutions, and markets. The trajectory of her work can be read along key vectors: experimentation, craft and technology, avant-garde, materials, and research. In these areas, quality was measured not only by immediate effectiveness, but by the long-term resilience of choices.
Contextual elements considered include her pioneering role in the dialogue between fashion, science, and new technologies. These factors, read alongside decisions taken and observable results, contributed to defining the awarded profile.
The rationale recognizes design as a cultural and industrial language: materials research, rigor, and the ability to innovate codes without losing legibility. In 2025, the awarded work demonstrated a synthesis of craft, technology, and vision.
Particularly relevant was the management of reputational and values boundaries, which today act as true capital: they determine access to partnerships, the ability to attract talent, and relationship stability. In an ecosystem often exposed to volatility, the awarded action demonstrates that credibility is built through continuity, attention to indirect impacts, and a sober, verifiable, non-performative public language.
Associated Medias also evaluated systemic effects: the quality of alliances built, care for stakeholders, and the ability to scale virtuous practices. Where complexity tends to fragment responsibility, the awarded leadership recomposed decision-making layers, fostering an architecture of choices that brings together competitiveness, responsibility, and sustainability.
The Aurora Award 2025 ultimately recognizes a profile that interprets its role as service—service to an organization, a public, and a community. This ethical and pragmatic dimension makes Iris van Herpen’s work a benchmark for 2025: an example of guiding change without losing a sense of limits, proportion, and responsibility. Systemic effects were also assessed: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the scalability of virtuous practices. In a phase where consensus can be rapid but fragile, the solidity of a path combining responsibility, transparency, and execution discipline is rewarded. Associated Medias also recognizes the educational dimension of the role: public example as an orientation tool for the generations who will enter decision-making processes tomorrow.
Link to Maria Grazia Chiuri
Maria Grazia Chiuri
Chief Creative Officer, Fendi (from 2025); former Creative Director, Dior Women (2016–2025)
Link to Profile OverviewProfile Overview
• Role in 2025: Chief Creative Officer, Fendi (from 2025); former Creative Director, Dior Women (2016–2025)
• Sphere of influence: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
• Context note: Introduced a feminist and culturally engaged language into contemporary fashion
• Keywords: cultural vision; feminism; craftsmanship; narrative; heritage
• Distinctive contribution: Innovation in design language, bridging research, industry, and material culture
Link to Award RationaleAward Rationale
The Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias award Maria Grazia Chiuri the Aurora Award 2025 – DESIGNER OF THE YEAR for design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. The award comes in a year that has made leadership evaluation more demanding: interpreting change is no longer enough—one must govern it with method, transparency, and the ability to generate trust.
In 2025, Maria Grazia Chiuri served as Chief Creative Officer of Fendi (from 2025) and as former Creative Director of Dior Women (2016–2025), assuming responsibilities that affect people, institutions, and markets. Her trajectory can be read along key vectors: cultural vision, feminism, craftsmanship, narrative, and heritage. In these areas, quality was measured not only by immediate effectiveness, but by the long-term resilience of choices.
Contextual elements considered include her introduction of a feminist and culturally engaged language into contemporary fashion. These factors, read alongside decisions taken and observable results, contributed to defining the awarded profile.
The rationale recognizes design as a cultural and industrial language: materials research, rigor, and the ability to innovate codes without losing legibility. In 2025, the awarded work demonstrated a synthesis of craftsmanship, technology, and vision.
Particularly relevant was the management of reputational and values boundaries. In a volatile ecosystem, the awarded action shows that credibility is built through continuity, attention to indirect impacts, and a sober, verifiable, non-performative public language.
Associated Medias also assessed systemic effects: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and scalability of virtuous practices. Where complexity fragments responsibility, the awarded leadership recomposed decision-making layers, fostering an architecture that brings together competitiveness, responsibility, and sustainability.
The Aurora Award 2025 recognizes, in conclusion, a profile that interprets its role as service. This ethical and pragmatic dimension makes Maria Grazia Chiuri’s work a benchmark for 2025: an example of guiding change without losing a sense of limits, proportion, and responsibility. In a phase where consensus can be rapid but fragile, the solidity of a path combining responsibility, transparency, and execution discipline is rewarded. Associated Medias also recognizes the educational dimension of the role: public example as an orientation tool for tomorrow’s decision-makers.
Link to Jonathan Anderson
Jonathan Anderson
Creative Director, Dior (from 2025); founder of JW Anderson
Link to Profile OverviewProfile Overview
• Role in 2025: Creative Director, Dior (from 2025); founder of JW Anderson
• Sphere of influence: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
• Context note: Shaped a new grammar of contemporary luxury, balancing experimentation and rigor
• Keywords: creative direction; contemporary language; innovation; product care; hybridization
• Distinctive contribution: Innovation in design language, bridging research, industry, and material culture
Link to Award RationaleAward Rationale
The Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias award Jonathan Anderson the Aurora Award 2025 – DESIGNER OF THE YEAR for design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. The award comes in a year that has made leadership evaluation more demanding: interpreting change is no longer enough—one must govern it with method, transparency, and the ability to generate trust.
In 2025, Jonathan Anderson served as Creative Director of Dior (from 2025) and founder of JW Anderson, assuming responsibilities that affect people, institutions, and markets. His trajectory can be read along key vectors: creative direction, contemporary language, innovation, product care, and hybridization. In these areas, quality was measured not only by immediate effectiveness, but by the long-term resilience of choices.
Contextual elements considered include his shaping of a new grammar of contemporary luxury, balancing experimentation and rigor. These factors, read alongside decisions taken and observable results, contributed to defining the awarded profile.
The rationale recognizes design as a cultural and industrial language: materials research, rigor, and the ability to innovate codes without losing legibility. In 2025, the awarded work demonstrated a synthesis of craftsmanship, technology, and vision.
Particularly relevant was the management of reputational and values boundaries. Associated Medias also assessed systemic effects: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the scalability of virtuous practices. Where complexity fragments responsibility, the awarded leadership recomposed decision-making layers, fostering an architecture that brings together competitiveness, responsibility, and sustainability.
The Aurora Award 2025 ultimately recognizes a profile that interprets its role as service. The Scientific Committee also considered coherence between intention and outcome, distinguishing long-term leadership from tactical crisis management. The rationale acknowledges the ability to transform complex constraints into levers of innovation, securing the present while enabling more competitive and sustainable future scenarios.
Link to Nendo / Oki Sato
Nendo / Oki Sato
Design studio
Link to Profile OverviewProfile Overview
• Role in 2025: Design studio
• Sphere of influence: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
• Context note: Objects and spaces recognized for design intelligence and formal clarity
• Keywords: minimalism; functionality; precision; irony; design
• Distinctive contribution: Innovation in design language, bridging research, industry, and material culture
Link to Award RationaleAward Rationale
The Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias award Nendo / Oki Sato the Aurora Award 2025 – DESIGNER OF THE YEAR for design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. The award comes in a year that has made leadership evaluation more demanding: interpreting change is no longer enough—one must govern it with method, transparency, and the ability to generate trust.
In 2025, Nendo / Oki Sato operated as a design studio, assuming responsibilities that affect people, institutions, and markets. The trajectory of its work can be read along key vectors: minimalism, functionality, precision, irony, and design. In these areas, quality was measured not only by immediate effectiveness, but by the long-term resilience of choices.
Contextual elements considered include the recognizability of its objects and spaces for design intelligence and formal clarity. These factors, read alongside decisions taken and observable results, contributed to defining the awarded profile.
The rationale recognizes design as a cultural and industrial language: materials research, rigor, and the ability to innovate codes without losing legibility. In 2025, the awarded work demonstrated a synthesis of craftsmanship, technology, and vision.
Associated Medias also assessed systemic effects: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the ability to scale virtuous practices. Where complexity fragments responsibility, the awarded leadership recomposed decision-making layers, fostering an architecture that brings together competitiveness, responsibility, and sustainability.
The Aurora Award 2025 recognizes, in conclusion, a profile that interprets its role as service. The rationale acknowledges the ability to transform complex constraints into levers of innovation, securing the present while enabling more competitive and sustainable future scenarios. Systemic effects were also assessed: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the scalability of virtuous practices. In a phase where consensus can be rapid but fragile, the solidity of a path combining responsibility, transparency, and execution discipline is rewarded.
Link to Faye Toogood
Faye Toogood
Designer (Studio Toogood)
Link to Profile OverviewProfile Overview
• Role in 2025: Designer (Studio Toogood)
• Sphere of influence: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
• Context note: Influenced contemporary design through a cross-disciplinary and experimental practice
• Keywords: interdisciplinarity; furniture; interiors; fashion; materiality
• Distinctive contribution: Innovation in design language, bridging research, industry, and material culture
Link to Award RationaleAward Rationale
The Editorial Board and Scientific Committee of Associated Medias award Faye Toogood the Aurora Award 2025 – DESIGNER OF THE YEAR for design as a language: fashion and design as cultural and industrial devices. The award comes in a year that has made leadership evaluation more demanding: interpreting change is no longer enough—one must govern it with method, transparency, and the ability to generate trust.
In 2025, Faye Toogood worked as a designer (Studio Toogood), assuming responsibilities that affect people, institutions, and markets. Her trajectory can be read along key vectors: interdisciplinarity, furniture, interiors, fashion, and materiality. In these areas, quality was measured not only by immediate effectiveness, but by the long-term resilience of choices.
Contextual elements considered include her influence on contemporary design through a cross-disciplinary and experimental practice. These factors, read alongside decisions taken and observable results, contributed to defining the awarded profile.
The rationale recognizes design as a cultural and industrial language: materials research, rigor, and the ability to innovate codes without losing legibility. In 2025, the awarded work demonstrated a synthesis of craftsmanship, technology, and vision.
Particularly relevant was the management of reputational and values boundaries, now acting as true capital. Associated Medias also assessed systemic effects: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the scalability of virtuous practices. Where complexity fragments responsibility, the awarded leadership recomposed decision-making layers, fostering an architecture that brings together competitiveness, responsibility, and sustainability.
The Aurora Award 2025 ultimately recognizes a profile that interprets its role as service—service to an organization, a public, and a community. This ethical and pragmatic dimension makes Faye Toogood’s work a benchmark for 2025: an example of guiding change without losing a sense of limits, proportion, and responsibility. Systemic effects were also assessed: alliance quality, stakeholder care, and the scalability of virtuous practices. In a phase where consensus can be rapid but fragile, the solidity of a path combining responsibility, transparency, and execution discipline is rewarded. Associated Medias also recognizes the educational dimension of the role: public example as an orientation tool for tomorrow’s decision-makers.
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