Three students from Associate Professor of Architecture Jose A. Carrillo’s courses were recognized in the Cosentino Design Challenge (CDC), an international student competition organized by Cosentino.
Maya Kharboutly and Rizvi Abdul Hameed, fourth-year architecture students at the American University in Dubai (AUD), won two of the three prizes in the Architecture category of the 20th Cosentino Design Challenge. Third-year student Lea Bader received a runner-up prize. The students developed their projects in courses taught by Jose A. Carrillo, Associate Professor of Architecture, who has integrated the challenge into his courses ARCH 202 Architectural Design Studio IV and ARCH 301 Architectural Design Studio V since 2023 through the industry partnership between Cosentino and AUD’s Center for Research, Innovation, and Design.
Winners Maya Kharboutly and Rizvi Abdul Hameed, runner-up recipient Lea Bader, and Professor Jose A. Carrillo, Associate Professor of Architecture at AUD.
The 20th edition attracted 356 projects from more than 50 design schools and universities across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including 127 entries in the Architecture category. Responding to this year’s theme, “Spaces for the Media,” AUD students developed their projects in Professor Carrillo’s courses, rethinking how materials shape space.
Professor Carrillo said:
“Seeing our students compete, and win, at this level of the Cosentino Design Challenge reflects exactly what we aim for in the studio at AUD: training architecture students to treat materials as a design driver, not only as a finish. Two years ago, one of our students won a top prize in the very first edition of CDC that I integrated into my teaching. Seeing that grow into two top prizes and a runner-up prize this year tells me that what we are building at AUD is not a one-time result but a genuine trajectory, and it is a testament to their commitment and to what is possible when they are given a real, industry-facing platform like CDC. I am incredibly proud of them.”
This year’s results build on the 18th edition, when AUD student Marieh Khalighinasab won first prize in the Architecture category with “Recuerdos,” a project developed in Fall 2023 as part of the same partnership. Two editions later, the number of AUD projects recognized has grown from one to three.
Marta Barragan, Marketing Partner, Cosentino Middle East, added: “This year, the UAE has secured three awards, a testament to the growing caliber of talent and the quality of education offered by design schools in the region, with AUD being a long-standing partner. We look forward to launching the next edition and expanding our reach to engage more universities in the year ahead.”
The winners were celebrated at Cosentino City Dubai, in Dubai Design District, on 21 October 2026. Each winning student received a prize of 1,000 EUR, and the honorable mention recipient was recognized with a certificate. The event also marked the regional launch of the 21st edition of the challenge, #CosentinoDC21.
AUD students with their winning posters at the awards celebration at Cosentino City Dubai.
AUD students, faculty, and guests at the CDC20 celebration at Cosentino City Dubai.
The international jury of the 20th edition, presided over by Santiago Alfonso, Vice President of Institutional Relations and Corporate Reputation at Cosentino Group, brought together representatives of leading schools of architecture and design from Spain and Germany.
The Cosentino Design Challenge (CDC) is a research and creative challenge for future architecture and design professionals from all over the world. It unites students with Cosentino, a world leader in innovative surfaces, and its brands Dekton, Silestone, ECLOS, and Sensa by Cosentino. The 20th edition had the collaboration and support of 42 schools and universities that include the Challenge in their academic calendar. More information: cosentinodesignchallenge.org
