"Dezeen Jobs Top Companies is about highlighting the studios creating meaningful change"

Entries are now open for Dezeen Jobs Top Companies 2026, our first-ever programme that recognises outstanding studios and practices worldwide that are creating inclusive and forward-thinking workplaces.

Companies have until 11 December 2025 to submit their entries. Late entries will be accepted until 18 December 2025. Find out more and enter at Dezeen Jobs Top Companies.

We spoke to co-CEO Wai Shin Li about why recognising companies that are excelling in workplace culture, inclusivity, and employee wellbeing is important for Dezeen and Dezeen Jobs.

Anna Skrebels: Why has Dezeen Jobs launched the Dezeen Jobs Top Companies initiative?

Wai Shin Li: Over the years, we've spoken to numerous studios and jobseekers and one message consistently stands out: people want to work in environments where they feel valued, supported and inspired. At the same time, employers are increasingly aware that attracting the best talent requires far more than just exciting projects; it requires a healthy, fair and forward-thinking workplace culture.

Dezeen Jobs Top Companies was created to recognise and celebrate studios that are doing exactly that. These are practices that are either already leading with a strong culture or actively moving the needle for the better. We want to give the industry meaningful insight into the employment practices that studios around the world have adopted to set new standards of excellence.

Anna Skrebels: Why is Dezeen Jobs launching the initiative now?

Wai Shin Li: The past few years have reshaped the way we work. Hybrid arrangements, more flexible working conditions and growing expectations around wellbeing and inclusion have fundamentally changed what people look for in an employer. Jobseekers are more discerning, more informed and more confident asking for what they need.

We feel this is the right moment to shine a spotlight on companies that are not only adapting to those changes but embracing them. This initiative sets a benchmark for what positive, progressive and people-centred workplaces can look like in architecture and design.

Anna Skrebels: Why is recognising companies with strong workplace culture, inclusivity and employee wellbeing important for Dezeen and Dezeen Jobs?

Wai Shin Li: Dezeen has always championed innovation and excellence in design. But excellence isn't only measured through finished buildings or objects; it's also shaped by the environments in which ideas are created and nurtured.

By shining the light on companies with strong culture and inclusive practices, we're signalling that great design and great workplaces can go hand in hand. And by celebrating the studios that prioritise their teams, we hope to inspire others to do the same.

Anna Skrebels: What impact do you hope this programme will have on the architecture and design industry?

Wai Shin Li: Architecture and design remain highly demanding fields, and historically, the culture hasn't always prioritised the wellbeing of the people behind the work. Long hours, high pressure, limited diversity and unclear progression pathways have been persistent issues.

Dezeen Jobs Top Companies aims to shift the conversation from critique to action. It's about highlighting the studios that are creating meaningful change and demonstrating that better practices are not only possible but beneficial for everyone, from employees to leadership to clients. Our desire is that this recognition encourages more studios to evaluate their own culture and take meaningful steps toward improvement.

Anna Skrebels: What do companies gain from taking part?

Wai Shin Li: Participating gives companies an opportunity to communicate their values, culture and commitments to the global architecture and design community. Being included on the Dezeen Jobs Top Companies list is a strong signal to prospective employees that you invest in your people and take culture seriously.

It also helps studios to benchmark themselves, reflect on their policies and spotlight the initiatives they've put in place, many of which often go unacknowledged. And because Dezeen Jobs attracts an international audience, it's a chance for companies to reach talent far beyond their immediate networks.

Anna Skrebels: What are we looking for?

Wai Shin Li: We're looking for companies that prioritise their teams. That means clear policies around diversity and inclusion, professional development and work-life balance, and in everyday practice. We want to see that commitments are lived, not just written.

Anna Skrebels: Why should emerging studios and smaller practices apply as well?

Wai Shin Li: Great workplace culture doesn't depend on size. Some of the most innovative and forward-thinking approaches could come from smaller and emerging studios that are building their values from the ground up.

For younger studios, inclusion on the Dezeen Jobs Top Companies list can help raise their profile, attract top talent and differentiate them in a competitive landscape. It's also a chance to articulate the culture they're committed to building as they grow.

Anna Skrebels: How does this initiative reflect Dezeen's wider mission and long-term vision?

Wai Shin Li: Dezeen has always aimed to champion the best of architecture and design. By promoting companies that prioritise fairness, inclusivity, wellbeing and professional development, we're reinforcing our belief that great design flourishes when people are empowered to do their best work. This initiative is one way we can support that future and the community that makes Dezeen what it is.

Dezeen Jobs Top Companies

Dezeen Jobs Top Companies is an annual list celebrating the best architecture and design companies that create outstanding workplaces for their teams.

Find out more about how to enter here.

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