Camila Gonçalves and Andrea Felip received the People’s Choice Award for their project Whispers of the Ocean, while Juan Bueno and Rosalía Ordóñez received the Jury Presidents’ Award for Algae
From Spain to the global stage: four IED Madrid designers triumph at the Accor Awards
Date
05 September 2025
Paris hosted one of the most important events in the world of design. Yesterday, during MAISON&OBJET — one of the most prestigious international fairs dedicated to design, decoration, and lifestyle—the winners of the Accor Design Awards were announced. This global competition for architecture and interior design students aims to imagine the hospitality of tomorrow and support the new generation of designers.
IED Madrid was the only Spanish institution to participate in this edition—and it achieved outstanding results. Four students from the Interior Design Bachelor's program were recognized for their work. Camila Gonçalves and Andrea Felip received the People’s Choice Award for Whispers of the Ocean, a project that offers a sensory hotel experience connecting guests to the marine environment through light and sound. The proposal stood out for its focus on sustainable design and social innovation.
Meanwhile, students Juan Bueno and Rosalía Ordóñez were awarded the Jury Presidents’ Award for Algae, an invitation to reflect on the future of hospitality spaces through an innovative air purification system using marine algae. Their project strikes a perfect balance between sustainability, technology, and well-being.
This prestigious competition, promoted by Accor Group in collaboration with WWF and Novotel Hotels, aims to foster innovative ideas that contribute to the future of hotel design. In this edition, students were challenged to design a hotel room capable of reducing its carbon footprint through more sustainable choices—generating a positive impact on both the environment and the guest experience.
Eduardo Castañé, General Director of IED Madrid, spoke about this important achievement, praising the winners’ work: “We congratulate our students on this significant recognition, which positions them as future designers committed to the environment. The Accor Design Awards are not only an exceptional platform to showcase their talent, but also a chance to demonstrate how design can create social and ecological impact. At IED Madrid, we celebrate this accomplishment, which reaffirms our mission to educate innovative, responsible designers capable of leading the transformation toward a more sustainable future.”
Out of 10 design schools selected as finalists, IED Madrid had two winning projects on the list. This achievement further strengthens IED Madrid’s position as a benchmark in sustainable design education, standing alongside top schools from the United States, France, and Germany—and as the only Spanish institution among the finalists and winners.
Algae, by Juan Bueno and Rosalía Ordóñez, winner of the Jury Presidents’ Award
Whispers of the Ocean, by Camila Gonçalves and Andrea Felip, winner of the People’s Choice Award
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