Designlife Award Gala

Join us as we toast to another year of good design!

The Designlife Award recognizes the significant contribution that an individual or group has made in design and brings awareness to the importance of design in the community – and the practice of good design as a sign of good citizenship.

As the college enters a milestone year, the Designlife Gala and presentation of the Designlife award will return. To celebrate the college’s 75th anniversary, the College of Design chose to award two significant Designlife awards – one to signify a lifetime of achievement, and one to honor a new and emerging professional.

Designlife Gala Sponsors

Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 2023 Designlife Gala.

See our sponsors

Winners of the 2023 Designlife Award

To celebrate the college’s 75th anniversary, the College of Design chose to award two significant Designlife awards – one to signify a lifetime of achievement, and one to honor a new and emerging professional. Both awardees are alumni of the college, which had a formative impact on their career trajectories. Two individuals will be recognized for their unique contributions to the profession. Edwin F. “Abie” Harris, Jr., FAIA [B.Arch. ‘57], artist and former university architect for NC State, and J. Stacy Utley [BEDA ‘01, B.Arch. ‘06], public artist and educator, embody significant contributions to the College of Design, their respective professions, and the design profession.

Read about our winners

Past Recipients:

*denotes deceased

2023 – Edwin F. “Abie” Harris, Jr., FAIA and J. Stacy Utley
2020-2021 – William V. “Bill” Bell
2019 – Stephen Hill
2018 – Frank Harmon
2017 – Marvin Malecha*
2016 – Charman Driver + Frank Thompson
2015 – Steve Schuster*
2014 – Mitchell Silver
2013 – Clancy & Theys
2012 – Philip Freelon*
2011 – William Ivey Long
2010 – Greg Hatem
2009 – Tom Darden
2008 – Jim Goodmon
2007 – Ann Goodnight
2006 – Lawrence Wheeler
2005 – Gail Lindsey*
2004 – Richard Curtis*
2003 – Myrick Howard
2002 – Thomas Sayre
2001 – Betty Ray McCain*
2000 – Mary Ann* and Samuel Scherr*
1999 – Harvey Gantt
1998 – George Matsumoto and Duncan Stuart*

Designlife Gala sponsorships support the Design Professional Outreach Fund. All funds are managed by the NC State University Foundation.