Siddharth Bathla, Founder and Director of Design Factory India, has been named Designer of the Year 2026 at the A’ Design Awards in Como, Italy – the event’s top-tier individual accolade, awarded in recognition of his contributions to cultural and experiential spatial design on a global scale. The honour marks a landmark moment for Indian design, placing Bathla among an elite circle of internationally recognised designers being celebrated on the world stage this year.
The distinction coincides with his team’s win of the Platinum A’ Design Award for the Archaeological Experiential Museum (AEM) in Vadnagar, Gujarat, in the Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design category – a project that reflects Bathla’s ability to translate complex academic research into engaging, accessible public narratives. AEM Vadnagar brings over 2,500 years of continuous urban history to life, moving away from static museum displays toward a deeply layered spatial experience. Visitors navigate the space via specially designed ramps of metal grille and glass, engaging directly with the context, material, and history of the excavation site around them.
To mark his Designer of the Year distinction, Bathla was presented with a custom memento signed by 40 fellow Gold and Platinum-winning designers from across the world. He went on to present his design methodology at the Ars Futura Cultura symposium overlooking Lake Como, alongside Associate Partner and lead designer Prashasti Chandra, addressing an audience of international jurors, architects, and design leaders.
The win firmly cements Bathla’s place among the world’s most closely watched voices in narrative-driven architecture and design this year.
