The ones to watch: The best architecture and design graduates of 2021

A swathe of recent graduates across the nation are impressing their tutors, judges and jurors alike with their future-focussed and innovative designs.

With interior design expected to grow by 16.3 percent by 2025 and the architecture sector expected to grow 11 percent by 2025, the future of jobs in these industries looks optimistic.

We’ve taken a look at some of the graduates from the last year who’ve stood out from the crowd with their original ideas exceptional taste. It’ll be worth keeping your eyes on these ones.

Isabelle Kleijn

Awarded both the Madeline Lester Award and Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year at the Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) 2021, Isabelle Kleijn is certainly one to keep an eye on. A graduate from the University of New South Wales, Kleijn was awarded for her “mature grasp on the briefs that were set” and her “conceptually excellent, socially topical and dynamic presentation”.

Joanne Odisho

Awarded the Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year in the Graduate of the Year Awards 2021, Joanne Odisho is making waves. Graduating from RMIT University, Odisho’s win was attributed to her installation art, 3D forms and a strong spatial understanding, including innovative ways to use natural resources and promote sustainability.

James McNicol

Recently graduating from University of Technology Sydney (UTS), James McNicol presented a project that sees the concept of reciprocal rice and crab food production in the neutral water of the Imjin River, in the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea. McNicol received The Graduate award in the 2021 INDE.Awards.

Liam Oxlade

Liam Oxlade recently graduated from RMIT University with and was awarded an honourable mention in The Graduate category at the 2021 INDE.Awards. Oxlade unconventionally submitted his thesis as a short film that questions what life projects have beyond an examination. Watch his video here.

Emily Hunt

Emily Hunt has an exceptional record of awards and commendations. Graduating with a Masters of Architecture from University of Tasmania last year, Hunt has since gone onto work with Maguire + Devine Architects in Hobart. She was recently awarded the SWT Blythe Student Prize as part of the Tasmanian Architecture Awards and during her time at university, she received the TUU Mt Nelson Award Scholarship and the Estelle Marguerite Taylor Overseas Exchange Scholarship.