Celebrating the Future of Design: Julia Gdula Wins the Next Generation Student Award 2025
Commercial Interiors UK (CIUK) Next Generation Awards returned for their second year, once again shining a spotlight on the brightest emerging talents in interior design. This year’s event, sponsored by Silent Night Contract and held at the iconic Hallé St Peters in Manchester, was not only a celebration of student excellence but also saw the introduction of four new CIUK Member Awards. These additional categories highlight rising stars across the commercial interiors supply sector, reinforcing CIUK’s commitment to recognising excellence at every level of the industry.
Next Generation Exceptional Student Award winner, Julia Gdula
The evening brought together educational institutions, future designers, industry leaders, and commercial suppliers in a powerful celebration of creativity, innovation, and achievement.
A Colourful Challenge: The 2025 Student Brief
For the 2025 Next Generation Student Award, entrants were challenged to design an apart-hotel concept that integrated the principles of colour psychology to create emotionally supportive and functional spaces.
Students were first asked to carefully define who their apart-hotel would serve — identifying their target guests in terms of lifestyle, needs, and expectations. This focus shaped every aspect of the design, from spatial planning to the emotional tone of the interiors.
Winning design by Julia Gdula, Sheffield Hallam University
The brief demanded that students apply colour psychology thoughtfully, selecting hues that would impact mood, behaviour, and cognitive performance. Designs had to move beyond aesthetics to actively enhance guests’ well-being, offering environments that supported the guests’ needs.
Winning design by Julia Gdula, Sheffield Hallam University
Students were also encouraged to reflect the cultural and historical identity of their chosen location, embedding authenticity into their designs. Practical considerations such as space zoning, material sustainability, and intuitive functionality were equally important, ensuring that the guest journey through the apart-hotel — from arrival to relaxation — was seamless and enriching.
Winning design by Julia Gdula, Sheffield Hallam University
With guidance from Sarah Wakefield, Creative Director at Jolie and an expert in sensory-driven design, students explored how immersive, emotionally intelligent interiors could deeply enhance the guest experience, marrying creativity with scientific insight.
Celebrating the Winner: Julia Gdula, Sheffield Hallam University
The prestigious 2025 Student Award was awarded to Julia Gdula of Sheffield Hallam University, whose work demonstrated exceptional conceptual clarity, depth, and a sensitive response to the brief. Julia’s design successfully combined heritage, emotion, and functionality, offering a fresh yet grounded vision for modern living spaces.
CIUK Managing Director, Sean Holt, announced Julia Gdula as the award winner
As part of her prize, Julia has been awarded a two week placement with the team at Jolie, where she will gain invaluable hands-on experience under the guidance of Sarah Wakefield, Creative Director at Jolie. This opportunity will allow Julia to refine her design skills within a leading commercial design practice, pushing creative boundaries and building a deeper understanding of sensory and multi-sensory design approaches.
Julia collected her award from event sponsor David Lawrenson, Silentnight Contract
Julia says:
‘This award has meant so much to me, not only has the process of the competition taught me a lot about who I am as a designer, it has also pushed me and challenged me to develop my creative thinking further. The award itself has already opened so many doors for me as a student; it has allowed me to meet so many creatives within the industry and showcased my work to them. As a student we are encouraged to network, however we struggle to reach actual professionals within the field, this award put me in the perfect environment for networking and meeting people I wouldn’t have otherwise has the opportunity of meeting. It has also given me the incredible opportunity to experience working within the industry in the form of a placement, which will allow me to gain invaluable experience and skills from incredible designers.’
Julia with the Commercial Interiors UK member award winners and event sponsor David Lawrenson, Silentnight Contract
Dr Sally Billau, Senior Lecturer BA (Hons) Interior Architecture + Design at Sheffield Hallam University says:
‘We are truly delighted that Julia was selected as the winner of the CIUK Exceptional Student Award 2025, and no doubt from a talented field of designers. This achievement reflects not only the hard work, passion, and dedication that Julia puts into every project, but also her ability to express ideas, solve problems and create a narrative of storytelling that connects with her audience. We hope this win will motivate Julia to keep pushing creative boundaries and continue growing as a designer.’
Cotton Bloom Residences: Julia’s Award-Winning Concept
Julia Gdula’s project, titled “Cotton Bloom Residences,” presents an apart-hotel concept designed for young professionals beginning their journeys in Manchester. Rooted deeply in the city’s rich industrial past, particularly its association with the cotton industry, Julia’s design evokes the softness and tactility of cotton through material choices, woven patterns, and organic shapes. Her concept beautifully connects history with contemporary needs, creating a welcoming space that feels authentic to its location.
Colour psychology plays a central role in Julia’s interiors. She selected warm peach tones to create a positive, energising environment, balanced by gentle shades of green to foster tranquillity, stability, and cognitive well-being. These colour choices were strategically applied to enhance different emotional needs within the apart-hotel’s various zones, ensuring that guests could find both stimulation and relaxation as required.
Julia’s design choices reflected a strong commitment to sourcing high-quality commercial interior products. She specified Morris & Co.’s Spring Thicket paint and Yes Colours’ Fresh Peach for the walls, with Amtico’s Chiltern Oak flooring adding warmth and texture. Soft finishes from Sanderson and elegant bathroom details, such as Mudrak & Sons’ Alchemist Sage Tile, reinforced her refined material palette.
Furnishings were carefully selected for both style and functionality. Highlights included the Boss Triad bedside table, Vescom Elara drapes, and LUUM’s Oslin lighting in the bedroom. Kitchen and bathroom fittings featured high-performance products from Hansgrohe, Laufen, and Roca, ensuring a sleek, durable finish throughout. In the dining and living areas, pieces from Morgan, Boss, and Morris & Co. continued the design’s cohesive, heritage-inspired narrative. Every element contributed to an interior that balances emotional well-being, contemporary comfort, and a strong sense of place.
Esteemed Judges and Their Praise for Julia
The judging panel for the 2025 Next Generation Student Award comprised some of the industry’s most respected figures:
Diana Celella – Director, The Drawing Room Interiors
An internationally recognised designer, Diana Celella specialises in healthcare and evidence-based interiors. As a Past President of the Society of British and International Design (SBID), her career has been dedicated to creating spaces that prioritise functionality and emotional well-being. Diana also lectures at university level, inspiring the next generation of designers with her commitment to compassionate, impactful design.
Kelley Ralph – Experience Manager, Edyn Ltd.
With a dynamic background in television production and event management, Kelley Ralph brings a narrative-driven approach to experiential design. As Experience Manager for Edyn’s lifestyle brand Locke, she curates immersive environments through partnerships with artists, musicians, and retailers, ensuring that each Locke hotel becomes a vibrant cultural hub.
Sarah Wakefield – Creative Director, Jolie
Sarah Wakefield is known for her expertise in sensory and multi-sensory design. With a career that includes significant work for Soho House, she blends creativity and technical skill to create emotionally resonant spaces. At Jolie, Sarah leads a team focused on deepening the emotional impact of commercial interiors, often working with neuroscientists to amplify the user experience.
Alys Bryan – Editorial & Marketing Director, Design Insider and CIUK
Alys Bryan has more than 20 years of experience as a furniture designer and editor within the commercial sector. As Editorial Director at Design Insider, she spearheads initiatives that connect designers with manufacturers and suppliers, championing thoughtful, innovative design through editorial, events, and industry engagement.
The judges shared their unanimous praise for Julia’s project, stating:
“Julia delivered a well-thought-out and cohesive design that stood out for its clarity and depth. She cleverly rooted her concept in the rich industrial heritage of Manchester, drawing inspiration from the city’s historic cotton mills. Her attention to detail was particularly impressive, with every element carefully considered and beautifully resolved. Both her digital presentation and verbal delivery were confident, professional, and engaging — a true reflection of her thoughtful approach and design potential.”
Join Us: Universities and Students, Get Ready for 2026!
Following another inspiring awards night, CIUK invites universities across the UK to participate in the Next Generation Student Award 2026. Taking part offers students an incredible opportunity to showcase their talent to leading figures in the commercial interiors industry, gain valuable feedback from experts, and build essential professional networks.
For universities, engaging with the awards demonstrates a commitment to nurturing the next generation of design talent and connects academic institutions directly with industry standards and practices. With benefits ranging from industry placements to increased exposure and mentorship opportunities, the Next Generation Awards are a crucial stepping stone for students entering the world of commercial interiors.
Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved — your students could be the next stars of Commercial Interiors UK!