Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) alumna Katie Thomas has achieved a monumental milestone in her design career, securing two major accolades at the prestigious SBID International Design Awards 2026, held at the Royal Lancaster, London.
Her practice, KTM Design, triumphed in two key categories, winning Best Bar & Club Design in the UK and taking home the surprise Global Award for Best Office Design Over 2,000 sqm for their standout shipping agency headquarters project for Navig8.
Katie’s journey began at AUB where she completed her BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design followed by her Master’s degree. It was while finishing her postgraduate studies, at just 22 years old, that she co-founded KTM.
“To win on a global stage is an incredible feeling and truly the pinnacle of my career so far,” says Katie. “It’s a moment that validates years of dedication, late nights and hard work by our whole team.
“The foundations of everything I do today were laid during my time at AUB, where I was encouraged to push creative boundaries. To go from designing in a student bedroom to receiving this level of international recognition is beyond special, and we're excited to leverage this milestone as we step into our next chapter.”
Now celebrating its eleventh year, KTM Design has expanded significantly, spending around half its time working in London while delivering commercial, workplace and residential projects across the UK and internationally.
Despite her global success, Katie maintains strong ties to Dorset and AUB, where she passes on her expertise as an interior design lecturer teaching evening courses and curating educational programmes.
Looking ahead, KTM Design is setting its sights on securing major workplace, commercial and hospitality developments with global brands and corporate clients.
Meanwhile, Katie plans to expand her industry profile through speaking engagements and panel discussions at leading trade events next year, including Decorex and the Surface Design Show.
