Photo release 9 March 2020,

The 1st Edition of IFI Global Awards Program (IFI GAP) initiated by Steve Leung successfully held and Steve completes IFI President term in Dubai

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Initiated by Steve Leung, Founder of Steve Leung Design Group and President of International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), the 1st edition of IFI Global Awards Program (IFI GAP) was successfully held in Dubai on 26 February 2020. The award is the highest global honour that celebrates exceptional designers and projects worldwide.

IFI GAP consists four awards: (1) IFI PRIZE, (2) Fellows of IFI, (3) IFI Design Journalism Award and (4) IFI Design Distinction Awards.

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IFI PRIZE, the highest honour of the program, goes to Mr. Arthur Gensler, Founder of Gensler, to recognize his outstanding contributions to the interior architecture/design field.

For full winners’ list, please visit: https://ifiworld.org/gap/ifi-gap-winners/

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IFI Design Distinction Awards have received an outstanding number of almost 600 entries from 38 countries and regions.

The award trophies are custom-made by internationally renowned studio Zaha Hadid Design and fine natural stone leader CITCO. Each set of gold, silver and bronze trophies is carved from different stones to distinguish the 10 project categories of the Awards, while the same kind of stone is used for the same category. The fluid geometries exude a strong sense of dynamism, maintaining a direct relationship with each other and embodying the spirit of collaboration that leads to exceptional design.

For more details about IFI GAP, please visit https://ifiworld.org/gap/

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IFI Congress and IFI General Assembly were as well successfully held in Dubai. At the opening ceremony, Steve on behalf of IFI signed with Dubai Municipality the IFI Interior Declaration Adoption, an initiative promoting collaboration between the government and the design industry of the country or city.

During Steve’s term, he signed the Adoption with Asahikawa, Japan and Zurich, The Switzerland, while proactively promoting the Adoption to various cities in China including , , , Chengdu, etc. There are currently 127 adoptions worldwide.

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IFI Congress themed “DESIGN 2050: Technology. Design. Education” have panel discussions where designers and industry professionals give insights and sharings. Photo from left to right: Daniel Joppert, Ashley Hall, Susan Szenasy, Paul Tange and Arturo Dell’Aqua Bellavitis.

(Image 7) Steve and new IFI President Titi Ogufere of Nigeria (middle) and President-Elect Carlos Eduardo Scheliga of Brazil (right).

Representatives of design and industry associations from around 20 countries and cities gathered at The 29th General Assembly. Steve had the honour serving as IFI President, the first Chinese President of 57th year of IFI history, and handed over to Titi Ogufere of Nigeria and the new Executive Board.

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New IFI Executive Board members (from left to right) are from the following countries and cities: Hong Kong China, The Philippines, Mexico, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, Turkey, Australia and Estonia.

Steve Leung Design Group continues to grow leveraging our strengths including an international vision, global network and design experiences and capabilities under the leadership of Mr. Steve Leung. The Group is recognized as the World’s No.1 Residential Design Firm by Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants 2020, topping the list for four times in 2016-2020, and ranked Top 20 in overall global ranking. The Group will remain dedicated in promoting design education and industry development.

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High-resolution images can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Y2b_o5jS0MbR9Jh_2pJYIRuIia5Qg0pd

About IFI Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1963 as an international not-for-profit, the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) is the global voice and authority for professional Interior Architects/Designers. As the sole international federating body for Interior Architecture/Design Organizations, IFI acts as a global forum for the exchange and development of knowledge and experience in worldwide education, research and practice, and is the singular global authority for professional Interior Architects/Designers. Often considered as the “United Nations” of the Interior Architecture/Design field, IFI represents over 270,000 designers, educators and industry stakeholders in around 110 countries.

About Steve Leung Steve Leung is an international renowned architect, interior and product designer born in Hong Kong. He was honoured as the Winner of the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award 2015, the Oscar of Design. Steve's works reflect the projects' unique characters with a contemporary touch, taking inspirations from Asian culture and arts.

Steve is devoted to promoting design industry development and education. He served as

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President 2017-2019 of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), the first Chinese President in IFI history. He is currently the Executive Director of Design Committee of China National Interior Decoration Association (CIDA) and the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC). In 2014, he joined hands with interior designers from , Hong Kong and Taiwan to establish “C Foundation” to foster development of the design industry.

Steve founded his architectural and urban planning consultancy in 1987 and later restructured it into Steve Leung Architects Ltd. (SLA) and Steve Leung Designers Ltd. (SLD) in 1997. Steve Leung Design Group (SEHK: 2262) is now one of the largest design practices in Asia, headquartered in Hong Kong and Shanghai, with branch offices in and Guangzhou. With the dedication of over 500 designers and professionals, the Group is recognized as the World’s No.1 Residential Design Firm by Interior Design Top 100 Giants for four times in 2016-2020, and ranked Top 20 in overall global ranking in 2020.

With “DESIGN WITHOUT LIMITS” as motto, Steve set up 12 brands for a diverse and specialised creatives and designs, spanning from residential projects, luxury private residences, hotels and restaurants, arts and lifestyle, wellness designs, interior decorating and furnishing services etc. Steve’s signature projects include One Shenzhen Bay, One Park Shanghai, YOO8 Serviced by Kempinski, Kuala Lumpur, The Orchard Residences, Singapore, Park Mansion, Tokyo, Shangri-La Hotel At the Shard, London, Crowne Plaza Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Yuan at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, St. Regis Bar, Macau, Sing Yin at W Hong Kong, Ta-ke, Hong Kong and more. He has also collaborated with international brands for product designs including Bisazza, Fusital, Graham and Brown, Kohler, Neutra, Riva 1920、Swarovski, Theodore Alexander, Visionnaire, Villeroy & Boch and more.

** The attached information is provided by Steve Leung Design Group Ltd. for newspapers, magazines and digital media and shall not be re-published, re-used directly or indirectly in any form or medium without prior written consent from Steve Leung Design Group Ltd.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Foxy Tang | +852 9650 3493 | [email protected] Kan Wong | +852 6746 5341 | [email protected]

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