Cyprus-born designer Michael Anastassiades has been awarded the London Design Medal 2025, the highest honour at the London Design Festival recognising outstanding and sustained contribution to the design industry.
The London-based designer received the prestigious award during a ceremony on 15 September at the V&A East Storehouse.
The ceremony was part of the London Design Festival, which ran from 13-21 September and brought together the international design elite to celebrate the year’s most significant achievements in the field.
Anastassiades was honoured alongside prominent figures including British architect Norman Foster, who received the Lifetime Achievement Medal for his overall contribution to architecture and design.
Accessibility activist and consultant Sinéad Burke received the Design Innovation Medal, while Japanese designer Rio Kobayashi was awarded the Emerging Design Medal, recognising rising talents with dynamic prospects in the industry.
“It is a great honour to receive this award,” Anastassiades said, thanking the design community and his team. “The design medals have become some of the most prestigious in the industry. I never set out with a goal to arrive at a specific destination. For me, it has always been about the quality of the work. If I can maintain that, I’ll keep moving forward. I feel truly privileged to be where I am today”.
Born in Cyprus, Anastassiades initially studied civil engineering at Imperial College London before transitioning to industrial design at the Royal College of Art. He established his studio in 1994 and founded the firm Michael Anastassiades in 2007.
His company is now considered a benchmark in lighting, furniture and object design, characterised by a minimalist, almost poetic approach that redefines spatial experiences through light.
The designer’s work focuses on creating pieces that transform spaces through innovative lighting solutions, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary design.
Latest recognition in series of international honours
This year’s recognition adds to a series of international acknowledgements for Anastassiades.
His international recognition includes receiving the title Royal Designer for Industry from the Royal Society of Arts in 2015 and the ADI Compasso d’Oro award in 2020.
In 2024, he was honoured by King Charles III with appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to design.
