With excitement building around our inaugural Utah Design Awards, the Utah Style &
Design team wanted to give our readers a glimpse into some of the industry experts
who will be leading our first-ever judges panel! Our esteemed team of experts,
composed of a multi-faceted group of expert design professionals, will meticulously
analyze and judge each submission. Next June, the top three winners in each category will
be announced and showcased at our highly-anticipated Utah Design Awards gala and
in our special summer awards issue. Until then, we’d like to introduce you a few of these
remarkable icons.
Jonathan Adler
Potter, designer, and author Jonathan Adler launched his namesake brand after leaving
his day job to pursue his first love: pottery. In 1993, Barneys bought his collection, and
five years later, he opened his first store in Soho. Today his offerings span furniture,
lighting, home décor, and more, plus countless iconic interior projects, and retail
locations worldwide, all dedicated to bringing Modern American Glamour to your life. His
motto? “If your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it.” jonathanadler.com
Gio Helou
Gio Helou is a Southern California native, luxury real estate agent with The Oppenheim
Group, and star of Netflix’s hit series Selling the OC, where he has been a principal cast
member since its debut in 2022. Known for his signature fashion sense and discerning
eye for design, Gio has a deep appreciation for interior design, architecture, and all
things style. Outside of real estate, he is an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast and
lives in Orange County with his wife, Tiffany, and their two children. ogroup.com
Benjamin Reynaert
New York–based editor, stylist, author, and creative consultant Benjamin Reynaert has
a passion for interiors that tell deeply personal stories. As Market Director of ELLE
Decor, he reports on the people, places, and objects shaping the design world today.
Reynaert has also held editorial roles at Architectural Digest, domino, and Martha
Stewart Living and recently authored and released his first book, The Layered Home.
He is also the co-founder of The Ticking Tent®, a curated design market dedicated to
antiques, artisans, and the thrill of the hunt. benjaminreynaertcreative.com
Jean Stoffer
Jean Stoffer is the founder and principal designer of Jean Stoffer Design, a nationally
recognized interior design firm known for its thoughtful use of interior detailing, scale,
and proportion. With a particular focus on kitchen and whole-home design, Stoffer has a
passion for creating spaces that are both refined and deeply livable, with a special
appreciation for the character of old homes. Her work has been featured in leading
national design publications, and she is frequently sought out for her expertise in interior
design, trends, and the business of design. She is also the co-founder of Stoffer Home
Cabinetry, which she launched with her daughter, Grace Stoffer, bringing her design
expertise to a line of American-made cabinetry known for its timeless aesthetic and
thoughtful details. jeanstofferdesign.com
Jean Liu
Having earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown in Foreign Service and a master’s
degree in Theological Studies from Harvard, interior designer Jean Liu was running her
family’s business, Litex Industries, when she decided to take a leap and launch her
namesake Dallas and New York-based firm, Jean Liu Design in 2007 after helping a
friend redesign a room. Today, Liu and her team specialize in high-end residential and
commercial projects. She is also the owner and founder of Stori Modern, an outdoor
furniture line. Between the design arm of her business and the outdoor furniture
collection, Liu is able to combine both her creativity and her business background. She
says the process of finally doing what she wanted was like discovering a new self. Her
work can be found in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural
Digest, The Wall Street Journal, and more. jeanliudesign.com
Brett Moyer
Partner and principal with San Francisco-based Richard Beard Architects since 2022,
Brett Moyer, approaches the firm’s practice as a responsive, holistic one that expresses
its clients’ visions and enhances their lives. Moyer’s refined aesthetic, based on an eye
for the essential and poetic in design, has evolved over his 25 years in the field, but
remains rooted in an expression of authentic materials, conceptual rigor, and
collaborative approach. Known for a body of work defined by a contemporary approach
to space and a deep understanding of context, Moyer, who previously to his current
position served as the firm’s senior designer and studio director, brings connoisseurship
to each of his projects, in which craftsmanship and warmth combine to shape
environments that live well and promote well-being. richard-beard.com
Submissions for our inaugural Utah Design Awards are open now! Learn more about the brand new awards program, and how to enter, here.
