Over the past seven years, the Drawing of the Year trophies have evolved in parallel with the values and purpose they represent. Designed by ARCHISOURCE DESIGN STUDIO, each trophy reflects a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the rediscovery of beauty hidden within materials traditionally considered waste. Centred around creating objects that are not only visually interesting but also deeply meaningful, the trophies celebrate the intersection of craftsmanship, experimentation, and responsible design.

Presented to the winners and finalists, these crafted objects stand as physical expressions of the images themselves, each telling a story of process, materiality, and purpose.

A defining characteristic of the trophies is their exploration of materials. Each year the trophy has been carefully designed to reflect the ethos and inherent qualities of the material - a principle that has consistently underpinned the design.

Together, the trophies form a growing collection that charts a history of design thinking: one that places material honesty, innovation, and environmental responsibility at the forefront. These objects act as physical manifestations of how thoughtful design can transform materials, often considered waste, into something lasting, meaningful, and celebrated.

Archisource has continually collaborated with innovators working in waste plastic, bioplastic, sand, sea shells, eggshells, and flexible wood, celebrating the unique qualities of each material and the process through which it is crafted.

Sustainability has always played a significant role in the trophies’ design. The use of dukta’s sustainably sourced engineered wood enabled the design to push wood beyond its preconceived capabilities and typical forms, celebrating material expression.

The collaboration with SANDHELDEN combined the natural material sand with the precision and possibilities of 3D printing. By re-using plastic waste with Smile Plastics and closing the loop, discarded resources were given new life and transformed into beautiful, unique designs.

With Nature Squared, waste eggshells and discarded pen shell were transformed through artisan craft to reveal the beauty within natural fracture, while supporting responsible local material sourcing.

Through these explorations, the Drawing of the Year trophies invite us to see materials differently, not as limitations, but as opportunities for creativity, responsibility, and reinvention.