{"id":30658,"date":"2025-01-25T20:11:46","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T19:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/?p=30658"},"modified":"2025-12-01T22:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T21:23:12","slug":"from-last-years-best-in-design-winner-to-its-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/en\/2025\/01\/25\/from-last-years-best-in-design-winner-to-its-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"From last year’s Best in Design winner to its judge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After winning the prestigious Best in Design (BiD) designer competition last year, Polish designer Marek Ku\u017ami\u0144ski is preparing for a new role in which he is switching sides and as a judge will evaluate projects of designers from all over the world. In this interview, he is sharing his journey, what winning means to him and what he\u2019s expecting from designers in this year’s competition. At the same time, he revealed to us what he is most looking forward to and his advice to those who want to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How has your life changed when you look back at your journey from last year’s victory to this year, when you will be part of the jury?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Last year\u2019s victory hasn\u2019t radically changed my daily routine, but it has reshaped my focus. While still working on my design projects, recently I\u2019ve shifted more towards research, which has been incredibly rewarding. Winning with my \u201cHands Up\u201d project gave me a sense of validation – it sparked hope and motivated me to push the boundaries of my work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, I\u2019m finalizing a research trip in India and Nepal, where I\u2019ve been exploring societal perspectives of children with disabilities and the critical role of organizations in supporting these children. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the global context of design, and I\u2019m excited to bring this perspective into my role as a jury member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did participation and winning in the competition give you personally?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Winning the competition was a transformative experience. It gave me undeniable proof that social design has a significant role to play in today\u2019s rapidly evolving world. It empowered me to believe in the necessity of projects that bridge the gap between people and organizations, positioning designers as mediators for meaningful changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recognition also fueled my energy and determination to pursue impactful work, showing me that good design isn\u2019t just about aesthetics – it\u2019s about addressing real world challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you preparing in any special way for the role of a judge? If yes, how?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely! Over the past year, I\u2019ve been actively following trends and topics that resonate with emerging designers. I attended the Universal Design Conference \u2013 UD2024, where I absorbed insights on universal design across various disciplines from education, architecture to social studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the most important factors that you will consider when evaluating as a judge?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Behind every project is a story, and that\u2019s what I want to uncover. I\u2019ll be focusing on what drove each designer to choose their specific topic, what motivated them throughout the process, and how they approached challenges along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, it\u2019s not just about the final product but the journey that led to it. I\u2019m interested in how the designer\u2019s values, creativity, and problem-solving skills shine through their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you most looking forward to this year?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

BiD never fails to surprise me in the best possible ways. The team behind it is young, energetic, and brimming with creativity, and I know they\u2019ll deliver an unforgettable event again this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m particularly looking forward to connecting with the organizing team, other judges, and last year\u2019s winners. Of course, I can\u2019t wait to see the entries – there\u2019s something so inspiring about discovering the stories and visions of designers from all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, on a lighter note, I\u2019m counting the days until I can enjoy fried cheese again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there anything you would do differently this year if you were competing again?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As a designer, I\u2019m always reflecting on how I can improve, and every project teaches me something new. If I were competing this year, I\u2019d place greater emphasis on my digital presentation and visual materials – these are often the first things that convey your ideas to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, every project comes with challenges, whether it\u2019s time, budget, or stress. But I believe that\u2019s part of the creative journey. And let\u2019s be honest, is there any designer out there who wouldn\u2019t change or refine something in their work, if there was a chance? This is also part of self\u2013growth and evolution to become a better designer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice would you give to competitors this year for the best possible chance of success?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Stay true to yourself and your design vision. Don\u2019t lose sight of where you come from or what drives you. Authenticity is one of the most valuable qualities a designer can have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This competition is a gateway to incredible opportunities – to learn, grow, and connect with other creative minds. Take advantage of the chance to network, share ideas, and immerse yourself in the experience. BiD is more than a competition; it\u2019s a celebration of creativity and collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us what are you currently working on or what you are planning?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Right now, I\u2019m wrapping up an enriching research trip to India and Nepal. This journey has been a turning point for me – allowing me to see the world through a different lens and inspiring ideas for future projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there anything you would like to say to the readers at the end?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Be curious about the world around you. Stay open-minded and keep learning from every experience. Define your values and goals, and let them guide your work and life. And above all, be kind. Design has the power to shape a better world – so use your creativity to make a difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After winning the prestigious Best in Design (BiD) designer competition last year, Polish designer Marek Ku\u017ami\u0144ski is preparing for a new role in which he is […]","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":29025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"class_list":["post-30658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35697,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30658\/revisions\/35697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}