Design Excellence Awards

The College of Design Excellence Awards recognize those with degrees from Georgia Tech’s College of Design whose meritorious design, creative, professional, or leadership contributions during their careers. The College of Design also gives this award to those who have substantially contributed to advancing the individual Schools or professional fields represented in the College.

The inaugural celebration of the College of Design Excellence Awards was held on February 1, 2025.

Scenes from the 2025 College of Design Excellence Awards Celebration

Catherine Ross speaks with architecture students

Merrill Elam and Mack Scogin greet a friend

A guest takes a photo of one of the awardees

Ivenue Love-Stanley and William Stanley III

The Inaugural Cohort of the Design Excellence Awards

The Distinguished Faculty Design Excellence Award

The Emerging Design Excellence Award

The Distinguished Design Excellence Award

The Legendary Design Excellence Award

The Dean's Impact Award

The Dean's Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award

The Distinguished Memorial Design Excellence Award

Distinguished Faculty Design Excellence Awards

The Distinguished Faculty Design Excellence Award honors faculty members whose exceptional achievements have elevated the College of Design and the broader design community.

These individuals exemplify excellence through their professional practice, dedicated service to our student body, significant contributions to the design profession, and meaningful impact on society. Their work extends beyond the classroom, shaping the future of design through groundbreaking research and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

The 2025 recipients of The Distinguished Faculty Design Excellence Award are:
Jim Budd
Michael Dobbins
T. Russell Gentry
Catherine L. Ross

The Emerging Design Excellence Award

The Emerging Design Excellence Award celebrates the rising stars of the design world—individuals who have quickly made their mark through exceptional professional practice and meaningful service to the Institute, the design profession, or society.

These honorees are on the "fast track," achieving rapid advancements within their organizations and gaining well-deserved recognition from peers and leaders in their fields. Their early achievements reflect not only their talent and dedication but also their potential to shape the future of design in extraordinary ways.

The 2025 recipients of The Emerging Design Excellence Award are:
Cassie D. Branum
Lamtharn "Hanoi" Hantrakul
Jung Hyun Lee
Krystal Persaud
Adella "Addie" Weber

The Distinguished Design Excellence Award

The Distinguished Design Excellence Award recognizes individuals who made significant contributions to the Institute, the design profession, their field, and society. These honorees are highly accomplished professionals who exemplify leadership, innovation, and excellence in their work.

Actively engaged in design, management, industry, or government, they have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to influence and shape their fields. Their impact is profound, and their achievements serve as a testament to the power of design to transform and inspire.

The 2025 recipients of The Distinguished Design Excellence Award are:
Karl A. Backus
George A. Campbell
Ti Chang
Ryan A. Gravel
Ken Gwinner
James T. Nozar
Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam
K. Liz York

The Legendary Design Excellence Award

The Legendary Design Excellence Award celebrates individuals whose careers are defined by distinction, dedication, and a lasting impact. This award honors those who have achieved excellence through long-standing professional practice and exceptional service to the Institute, the design profession, or society.

These honorees embody the highest standards of design excellence, leaving an enduring legacy through their contributions and unwavering commitment to their craft. They are inspirations to us all, demonstrating what can be accomplished through passion, talent, and dedication.

The 2025 recipients of The Legendary Design Excellence Award are:
John A. Busby, Jr.
Jerome "Jerry" Cooper
William J. Stanley, III and Ivenue Love-Stanley
Stanley "Mickey" Steinberg
Preston S. Stevens, Jr.
Thomas Walker Ventulett III

The Dean's Impact Award

The Dean’s Impact Award recognizes innovators whose sustainable designs, research, creative practice, or innovation seek to address pressing contemporary challenges, both locally and globally. This award recognizes those graduates who embrace Design Excellence and have the vision and drive to create solutions with positive impact.

The 2025 recipients of The Dean's Impact Award are:
Sally S. Bethea
Chung Y. Yoo

The Dean's Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award

The Dean’s Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award honors those individuals who are graduates of Georgia Tech and have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the College of Design in multiple ways. Their leadership has assisted the College achieve its goals, advance its reputation, and foster excellence and achievement amongst our faculty, staff and students.

These distinguished alumni have brought exceptional distinction to the College and to Georgia Tech through their remarkable achievements, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication. Their commitment inspires our community and represents the very best of what it means to be part of the Georgia Tech College of Design family.

The 2025 recipients of The Dean's Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award are:
Jennifer Ball
G. Niles Bolton
James "Jim" Oliver II

The Distinguished Memorial Design Excellence Award

The Distinguished Memorial Design Excellence Award honors graduates of Georgia Tech’s College of Design, as well as individuals who have significantly supported or advanced the College in its mission. These individuals are being recognized posthumously. These awards celebrate their remarkable contributions to the field of design throughout their careers, recognizing the profound impact they have made on their professions and the world around them.

Through their achievements, these legends reached the highest levels of professional excellence, embodying an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of their craft. We remember and celebrate their legacies, ensuring their influence and inspiration live on within the College of Design community.

Douglas C. Allen
Godfried "Fried" Augenbroe
John Caddell
Richard Dagenhart
Charles "Chuck" Eastman
William L. Fash
Thomas D. Galloway
Richard A. and Margaret Guthman
William "Bill" Harrison
George T. Heery
P.M. Heffernan
Richard Martin
John C. Portman, Jr.
Kevin Reeder
Thera H. Richter