We are delighted to announce the selected finalists for the 2025 MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design.
The MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design is an Australian Design Centre initiative founded in 2023 with the support of a generous philanthropist. It is the richest non-acquisitive prize for craft and design in Australia. The winner will receive a cash prize of $35,000 and a second prize of $10,000 will be awarded.
Australian designer makers were encouraged to submit a work that demonstrated innovation in technique or material use and is an extension of their usual practice.
A total of 197 entries were received from artists working in object design and material practice across the fields of ceramics, glass, furniture, metal, jewellery, textiles and fibre.
The judges have selected 36 finalists.
Finalists:
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
Melinda Young
The winner will be announced on Friday 10 October 2025.
ADC CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Cahill said, “Entries for the MAKE Award demonstrated the exceptional talent of Australia’s design and craft practitioners. Thank you to all who entered. Keep making. Your innovation and skill are exceptional and we value your contribution to material culture".
Preselection was undertaken by the MAKE Award judging panel with Lisa Cahill (CEO and Artistic Director, Australian Design Centre), Simone LeAmon (Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture, National Gallery of Victoria), Brian Parkes (CEO, JamFactory) and Vipoo Srivilasa (Artist and 2023 MAKE Award Winner). We thank them for their time, dedication and expertise.
Read more about the judges here.
The MAKE Award is an initiative of Australian Design Centre.
Exhibition Dates: 10 October—22 November 2025
Location: Australian Design Centre
101–115 William Street Darlinghurst NSW, Gadigal Land
Entry: Free
After launching at Australian Design Centre, the exhibition will then tour through ADC On Tour to JamFactory (SA) from 5 December 2025 to 12 April 2026.