Designers

Just Announced: The Winners of the 21st Annual Sam Carter Award in Applied Art and Design

Among the recipients is Western Living’s Designers of the Year 2022 alum Mario Pao.

By Kristi Alexandra /

Two recipients of the 21st Annual Sam Carter Award in Applied Art and Design, plus the emerging artist and recipient of the award of distinction have been named. 

Put on by the BC Achievement Foundation, the awards are made for emerging and established artists across British Columbia who have created a body of functional pieces of art—whether fashion, furniture or industrial design. 

“The 2025 recipients of the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design exemplify a visionary approach to design that unites beauty, utility and impact,” writes Walter Pela, chair of the BC Achievement Foundation, in a release. 

“Their work honours the legacy of this award by pushing boundaries and enriching our cultural landscape through innovation.”

Former one-to-watch and 2022 Designers of the Year alum Mario Pao (who was crowned in the Industrial Design category) was one of two recipients of the award, winning for his body of work, which includes a set of bronze hardware sculptures that act as cabinet handles.


According to Pao—both a trained architect and woodworker—he took inspiration from nature with motifs such as “things from the ocean,” as well and rocks and mushrooms. For this piece in particular, chantrelle mushrooms. 

Sharing the spot is Vancouver’s Bettina Mueller Reichl, who submitted a raincoat made from self-created proprietary fabric in her portfolio. The final piece is a completely waterproof, high-fashion piece.

Bowen Island’s Russell Hackney earned the Award of Distinction for his work, which included the third-generation potter’s slipcast porcelain jug, while the multimedia artist Tyler James Goin received the Judson Beaumont Emerging Artist award.

The 2025 recipients were selected by an independent jury, including Dr. Trish Kelly, president of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Western Living’s very own editor-in-chief Anicka Quin and Jeff Martin of Jeff Martin Joinery, 2020 recipient. Advisors to the jury are Ron Kong, craft advocate and Toby Barratt, Propellor Design, 2010 recipient.

All four of the awardees will show their work at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre on November 25, 2025, which will also include short films celebrating the artists’ accomplishments.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.bcachievement.com.

 

Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra is the managing editor, food and culture, at Canada Wide Media. She loves food, travel, film and wine (but most of all, writing about them for Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and BCBusiness). Send any food and culture-related pitches to her at [email protected].