Our annual Etsy Design Awards is a salute to our inspiring sellers–and their one-of-a-kind pieces that blow our minds. These immensely talented sellers (narrowed down from thousands of submissions!) are some of the year’s most creative up-and-comers from around the globe, and we couldn’t be more excited to reveal the class of 2022.
To help us select the cream of the crop, we tapped The Expert’s roster of world-renowned designers —including former J.Crew President & Creative Director, Jenna Lyons, AD100 Interior Designer & The Expert Co-Founder, Jake Arnold, and celebrity interior designer and founder of Romanek Design Studio, Brigette Romanek!—to handpick the 2022 Etsy Design Award winners, alongside myself.
"The Etsy Design Awards helped emphasize for me the creativity and breadth of talent that exists in the Etsy community purely by the vast differences and incredible craftsmanship that I saw,” says judge Jenna Lyons.
And now onto this year’s standout sellers and their award-winning items:
Grand Prize Award Winner: Geometric Modern Wall Hanging ($188) by We Are Lunarium | UK
$20,000 USD Prize* + cover feature in an upcoming 2022 Etsy Lookbook
Taking home this year’s Grand Prize Award is UK-based designer Tim Stevenson of the shop We Are Lunarium for his dazzlingly unique art piece that adds an instant pop of mid-century modern pizzaz to any space. Tim first got the inspiration for his Scandinavian-style wall hangings while sailing around the Canary Islands on vacation: in a stroke of genius, he reached for his sketchbook to scribble down his original design concept, which he later brought to life using a variety of materials including birch plywood, metal, ceramics, and wooden beads–hand painted and constructed in Milton Keynes, England.
Judge Jake Arnold says about the Grand Prize Award-winning piece, “The use of mixed materials is really impressive in that even though it combines so many different material types, it is still calming and inviting. I could see this piece attracting many types of customers.”
People’s Pick Award Winner: Convex Aura Mirror ($492) by Surrey Woodsmiths | UK
$5,000 USD Prize*
Jonathan Hitchcock of Surrey Woodsmiths has been voted the People’s Pick Award Winner for his sculptural Convex Aura Mirror, expertly carved from one solid piece of birch. With a background in medical engineering and industrial manufacturing, Jonathan now creates furniture “inspired by nature and made with passion” at his farm in the rolling hills of Surrey, UK, combining art with function.
“I was so impressed by the design details and the unusual use of materials in the winning items. Each piece is super unique and fun,” says judge Brigette Romanek.
Category Winners: $1,000 USD Prize*
Art: Blue Roads Canvas Painting ($797) by Art By Dina D | US
Maryland-based artist Edina "Dina" Dodson began painting after her mother’s passing in 2014 as a form of therapy. Her Blue Roads painting reflects her emotions and experiences over the last year, while the white detail represents brightness and movement.
Clothing & Accessories: Collarless V-Neck Jacket ($395) by W.B.THAMM | US
Prangchat “Deedee” Sathianthammawit’s colorful modern collarless jacket was once a 1970s elongated hexagon quilt. After a 13-year long fashion career in NYC, the now Utah-based designer felt drawn to pursue a more eco-conscious future, which led to the development of her playful, classic yet contemporary brand that gives new life to vintage textiles.
Home Decor & Lighting: Extra Large Leaning Wavy Mirror ($2,805) by Pedro Mealha | UK
Upon graduating with a degree in product and furniture design in 2009, Bristol, UK-based designer Pedro Mealha found it difficult to find work. In an effort to make ends meet, he decided to launch an Etsy shop 11 years ago, and the rest is history. Made from five layers of plywood with a pink finish, his oversized handcrafted wavy mirror is a sculptural stunner.
Furniture: Suelo Modern Daybed ($3,500) by Bertu Home | US
Gretta Jones is the creative mind behind Ohio-based handmade indoor and outdoor furniture company Bertu Home. The Suelo Modern Daybed is beautifully-constructed from solid wood and inspired by Gretta's love for travel. "The Suelo line reminds me of your own getaway - it has a natural, cool vibe and doesn't take itself too seriously," she says.
Jewelry: Leo Halo Earrings ($50) by It's All Culture Jewelry | US
For Chicago-based jewelry designer Ashley Bebley, what started as a maternity leave hustle became a full time passion during the pandemic. Her Leo Halo Earrings represent the birth of her son – who she calls her "first born creation" – and are handmade from clay with lion heads molded throughout the halo hoop.
Kitchen & Dining: Blue and White Ceramic Bowl ($146) by SIND Studio | Israel
Dima and Nadya Gurevich are the husband-and-wife designer duo behind SIND STUDIO, a high-end porcelain and ceramic design studio based in Tel Aviv, specializing in conceptual everyday objects with a playful sensibility. For their Blue and White Ceramic Bowl, Dima and Nadya developed a new painting technique that imitates marble patterns, creating a stylish canvas for fruits, salads, and more.
Weddings & Celebrations: Rowen Bodysuit & Bianca Skirt Set ($1,522) by Fern & Moon | Canada
Vancouver-based Fern & Moon co-founders Keira Danniels and Karen Merrifield created their line of rewearable, mix-and-match wedding pieces after struggling to find bridal outfits that matched their values, style and price point. The Rowen bodysuit and Bianca skirt were designed to turn a one-use purchase into something that can be worn again, minimizing the number of hidden purchases associated with finding a gown.
Vintage: Mid Century Modern Pendant Lamp ($706) by Muc Design | Germany
Munich-based Stefan Zimmerle is a vintage collector specializing in high-quality mid-century modern home furnishings that are “lovingly curated.” This 1960s Modern Pendant Lamp – which he deems a "rare vintage darling" – is made of three concentric metal rings on a metal framework, creating a spectacular display of light when turned on.
Kids: Knitted Charcuterie ($16+) by Colette Bream | US
Colette Bream’s love for handmade was instilled in her early on by her grandmother, but her creative spark was reignited with the birth of her daughter in 2011. The Maryland-based knitter’s eponymous shop full of whimsical stuffed animals and toys encourages us all to take a more playful approach to the everyday. Her signature Knitted Charcuterie is handmade in small batches (just like the finest charcuterie) using Colette’s custom-made fabrics.
Pets: Rectangular Cat House ($520) by Live in Ideals | US
New York-based Sue Choi and Peter Gang started off making furnishings for their beloved cats, Snow and Star, after only finding unaffordable, cheaply-made items in the existing pet market. Their ultra-sleek Rectangular Cat House, is both functional and aesthetically-pleasing, made using baltic birch plywood and meant to complement a variety of home decor styles.
To shop the winning items – as well as all 100 finalists – visit etsy.com/designawards.
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*All winners will also receive:
- Winner shop badge
- Mentorship from Etsy experts
- Features on Etsy’s marketing channels, including social media, blog, email, and an Editor’s Picks page
- Features on The Expert’s marketing channels
All finalists will receive:
- $250 USD Etsy Gift Card
- Finalist shop badge
- $50 USD in Etsy Ads credits
- 50 listing credits
- Promotion on Etsy’s marketing channels, including social media, blog, email, and an Editors’ Picks page
- Item feature in an upcoming 2022 Etsy Market Lookbook
