The 2025 Interior of the Year jury brings together leading voices from the design world — Federico Monsalve, design editor and architecture critic; Alex McLeod, co-founder of design studio at.space; and Tim Kwan and Isabelle Sun, co-founders of the multi-award-winning Office AIO.
Federico Monsalve
Federico Monsalve is a prominent figure in New Zealand’s design and architecture community. The former editor of Interior and Urbis magazines, he is also the long-standing convenor and judge of various local and overseas awards such as: Home of the Year and Home Interior of the Year, World Architecture Festival, and others.
Federico has contributed to numerous local and international publications, including Monocle, Los Angeles Magazine, ARTnews (New York), and Frame Magazine (Amsterdam). Beyond his editorial endeavours, Federico is involved in shaping editorial strategy and exhibitions for organisations and brands that explore the intersection of art, design, politics and identity.
Isabelle Sun
Isabelle Sun, co-founder of Office AIO, is a New Zealand-trained architectural designer whose practice is informed by her multicultural upbringing and academic foundation.
Holding a Master of Architecture with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland, she leads projects with hands-on creative direction and care.
Named one of Architizer’s “100 Women to Watch in Architecture”, Isabelle has helped propel Office AIO to global acclaim. She regularly serves as a judge for top awards including WAF, Dezeen, Architizer A+, and Scape.
Alex McLeod
Alex McLeod is the co-founder of Auckland-based interior design studio, at.space. The studio has built a reputation for creating interiors defined by cohesive palettes, rich texture, and bold, expressive use of colour. Spaces that not only inspire but also serve their intended purpose, with integrity and intentionality.
Since its founding, the studio has been recognised with multiple accolades, including two gold pins at the NZ Best Awards and the Supreme HOME Interior of the Year Award in 2024.
Alex is an active contributor to the design community, having been a panellist for the inaugural Auckland Design Week and as a judge for the 2025 Dulux Colour Awards. With a passion for nostalgic design, abstract expression and tactile materials, Alex draws on memory and context to craft interiors with deep personal connection.
Tim Kwan
Tim Kwan, co-founder of Office AIO, is an award-winning architectural designer with over 19 years of experience. Educated at the University of Auckland and UC Berkeley, Tim’s globally recognised practice blends contextual sensitivity with poetic design, earning the prestigious World Interior of the Year title and Best Interior Design Firm.
From boutique spaces to large-scale commissions, his work reflects a meticulous and sensual approach.
He regularly serves on juries for leading international awards including WAF, Architizer A+, Dezeen, RTF, and Scape.
Interior of the Year 2025 is presented in partnership with
