Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Start your entry today, and take advantage of the Main Entry prices!
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the creative industries, Architizer’s Vision Awards jury reflects the design world’s most forward-thinking voices. This year’s panel includes pioneering architects, educators, researchers, and visual storytellers at the forefront of generative design. From fostering ethical innovation in global practice to exploring the cultural implications of machine intelligence, each juror brings a unique perspective on how AI, computation, and creativity intersect.
Collectively, they represent a paradigm shift in architecture — one in which designers are not just users of new technologies, but active participants in defining their purpose. Their influence spans continents and disciplines, proving that the tools of tomorrow can still be wielded with vision, intention, and humanity.
Niknaz Aftahi
Founder of aecplustech
Niknaz Aftahi is the CEO and founder of aec+tech, an all-in-one innovation platform and community that connects professionals in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AEC/O) with cutting-edge tools and technologies. Before launching aec+tech, Niknaz worked as both a design professional and a design technology director at architecture firms in the Bay Area, California.
Niknaz is passionate about advancing technology and innovation in the AEC space and is a frequent speaker at national and international AEC-tech events. She serves on the AIA San Francisco Design Technology Committee and is a member of the AIA’s first-ever AI Task Force, a national initiative exploring how artificial intelligence will shape the future of architecture and the built environment.
In addition to her work in tech, Niknaz is committed to educational equity. She has developed and taught online architecture courses for Baháʼí students in Iran, who continue to be denied access to higher education in their home country.
Ismail Seleit
AI Influencer, Foster + Partners
Ismail Seleit is a design architect at the industry-leading Foster and Partners, specializing in design technology. With extensive experience in architecture and computational design, Ismail has contributed to diverse projects, ranging from design competitions to the realization of buildings on various scales.
Actively supporting design teams, Ismail leverages his expertise in BIM and Computational Design to navigate complex challenges. His primary focus is on enabling project teams to achieve efficient, informed, and collaborative design outcomes. Collaborating across departments, Ismail works to implement innovative methodologies to manage the design process from urban planning to product scale.
Simultaneously, Ismail engages in applied research, exploring new opportunities for implementing cutting-edge design workflows. His research specifically focuses into the integration of generative AI image-generating tools, with a keen interest in the combination of Stable Diffusion and ControlNet. This unique approach offers various techniques for generating controlled image compositions based on diverse user-defined inputs.
Beyond his architectural pursuits, Ismail is an ambient-electronic music producer, with a focus on film scores. He has composed and produced soundtracks for architectural short films and contributed to the music and sound design of various independent films. Ismail’s passion for creative thinking, coupled with his dedication to design problem-solving, continues to drive his multifaceted and innovative endeavors.
Hamza Shaikh
Creative AI Lead at Gensler
Hamza Shaikh is a creative AI leader at Gensler, pioneering a human-first approach to generative artificial intelligence in design. With a multidisciplinary background as a digital artist, architect and published author, he brings a proven track record of driving creative innovation at scale. His work focuses on integrating AI into the design process and storytelling, ensuring that emerging technologies enhance rather than replace human creativity and design.
June Chow
Principal Architect and Founder of JUN Architect
Licensed architect based in Malaysia and AI specialist with expertise in Generative AI for architecture, urban design, and conceptual visualization. Trainer and consultant for architectural firms and academic institutions on AI-driven design workflows. Speaker at local and global forums and workshops on AI in architecture. Active on LinkedIn as one of the top 100 AI Creators.
Andy Shaw
Architect and Managing Partner at AMA Design, Chair of RIBA Gulf Chapter
Andy Shaw RIBA is an architect based in Dubai. Andy is passionate about how combining innovative technology such as AI and sustainable design can improve the built environment for all citizens. He is the Managing Partner at AMA, a boutique design studio, designers of the landmark ‘Yacht Club’ in Dubai Harbour, the Nobu Hotel and Residences in Abu Dhabi, and over 2000 homes for the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority. He is currently working on large urban PIF projects in Riyadh, KSA and new hotel resorts and housing communities in the UAE.
He is the Chair of the RIBA Gulf Chapter, from 2019 till 2025, helping to grow the design community and create events including the regionally focused Sustainability Series, and led the team delivering the Sustainability – Past, Present and Future exhibition in London and Dubai during COP28.
He has been using AI technology to further the design process in the studio, and has his AI generated work featured in the RIBA Journal and Building Design Magazine. He has lectured about AI and city design at the Big 5, various tech conferences and run panels and workshops in Design Week, INDEX and Everything Architecture focused on AI and the future of construction industry.
He is active online and in practice promoting architecture for the benefit of all the community of designers and citizens. Follow Andy on Instagram.
Hassan Ragab
Media Artist / Interdisciplinary designer / Architect at HSNRGB
Hassan is an interdisciplinary designer, architect and conceptual artist exploring the intersection of art, technology, and humanity. His work delves into themes of identity, heritage, and the evolving role of creativity in a rapidly changing world. Combining generative AI with traditional design processes, he challenges conventional aesthetics while raising questions about the societal and cultural implications of technology. Driven by a desire to provoke thought and inspire dialogue, Hassan’s practice focuses on using innovation as a tool to reimagine how we perceive ourselves and the environments we create.
Social Media Handles (@hsnrgb) via Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Bluesky,
Marcelo Coehlo
Director of MIT Design Intelligence Lab
Marcelo Coelho is director of the MIT Design Intelligence Lab and faculty at the MIT Department of Architecture. Spanning a wide range of media, processes, and scales, his work explores how we embody and physically interact with computation, creating new forms of expression and collaboration between human and machine intelligence.
Marcelo’s work has been exhibited internationally, including places such as the Rio 2016 Paralympic Ceremonies, Times Square, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and Ars Electronica, and can be found in museums, private collections, and billions of products sold all over the world. Recognition for this work includes two Prix Ars Electronica awards, Design Miami/ Designer of the Future Award, Red Dot Design Award, and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award.
Marcelo holds a doctorate degree from the MIT Media Lab and is also a Design Tech Innovation Fellow at Cornell University. He teaches graduate and undergraduate studios in industrial design, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence.
Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Start your entry today, and take advantage of the Main Entry prices!
