Press Release
Liminalis Photography by Maja Zinczuk Receives the A' Design Award in Photography and Photo Manipulation Design
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Maja Zinczuk for photography and photo manipulation design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the A' Design Award in the Photography and Photo Manipulation Design category for Liminalis Photography by Maja Zinczuk, designed for Maya Zet. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Liminalis Photography
This photographic project explores the Biebrza Valley, one of Europe's last vast wetland landscapes. Through images of mist, reflections, and shifting light, the series observes the quiet transformations of the marshes and the fragile rhythms of this ecosystem. Moving between documentary attention and a contemplative visual language, the photographs invite a slower way of looking and encourage deeper sensitivity to subtle environmental change. By focusing on atmosphere, silence, and the passing of time, the project reflects on the delicate balance between nature, memory, and human presence.
About Maja Zinczuk
Maja Zińczuk is a Polish camera operator and photographer. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Film and Television Image Production, specializing in cinematography. She continues to develop her work in visual storytelling through film and photography. In her photographic practice, she focuses on light, composition, and atmosphere, drawing from cinematographic language. Her interests include both portraiture and landscape. She currently works at an art gallery, where she is involved in promotion and creates films about artists and their work.
Award Record
This recognition makes Maja Zinczuk a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2020 - 2021 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Photography and Photo Manipulation Design Award
The A' Photography Design Award is an international photography competition recognizing good photographic creations by best photographers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to photographers, photojournalists, advertising agencies and digital artists from all countries. Typical entries include portraits, landscapes, still lifes, photojournalism, fashion shots and architectural images. The awarded photography designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/photography
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/179332
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/179332
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!179332
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/303783
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://youtu.be/OV8UfyS5mNI
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Liminalis Photography
- Function
- Photography
- Category
- Photography and Photo Manipulation Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Arts and Entertainment
- Colors
- Black, Saddle Brown, Maroon, Sienna and Peru
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Maya Zet
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Maja Zinczuk
- Country
- Poland
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #179332
Credits
- Team
- Solo project.
- Image Credits
- Maja Zińczuk, Morning Fog, 2025.; Maja Zińczuk, Wetland Horizon, 2025.; Maja Zińczuk, Silent Marsh, 2025.; Maja Zińczuk, Waterline, 2025.; Maja Zińczuk, Dusk Over Biebrza, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Biebrza is a photographic series portraying one of Europe's most pristine wetland landscapes. The images explore the interplay of light, mist, and water, emphasizing the rhythm and transience of marsh ecosystems. The project merges documentary clarity with artistic interpretation, creating a quiet narrative about the fragility and timelessness of nature.
- Inspiration
- The project was inspired by the Biebrza Valley as a rare, almost untouched natural environment. Observations of seasonal changes, shifting light, and water levels formed the conceptual foundation. The series reflects a contemplative approach to landscape photography and a desire to preserve the visual memory of vulnerable wetland ecosystems.
- Research
- Type of Research: Artistic and observational research. Research Objectives: To visually document and interpret wetland landscapes. Methodology: Field observation and photographic exploration. Data Collection and Tools Used: Digital photography, field notes. Participants or Experiments: Solo fieldwork. Results: A cohesive photographic series. Insights and Impacts: Increased awareness of fragile ecosystems and landscape perception.
- Challenge
- The primary challenge was capturing the essence of an ever-changing landscape while preserving its silence and authenticity. Environmental constraints, weather unpredictability, and ethical considerations related to wildlife protection required patience, adaptability, and a non-invasive approach to image-making.
- Realization and Technology
- The project was realized using digital photography techniques focused on natural light.
- Operation and Interaction
- The project invites viewers to engage through quiet observation rather than direct interaction. Sequential viewing reveals subtle changes in light, space, and mood, encouraging a slower pace of perception. The images function collectively as a visual narrative, allowing the audience to experience the landscape as a contemplative and immersive environment.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project was developed during summer 2025 in the Biebrza Valley, Poland. Photographs were taken across multiple seasons to document environmental changes and atmospheric conditions characteristic of the region.
- Specifications
- Digital photographic series produced in high-resolution RAW format using Alpha 7 III camera, without post-production.
- Keywords
- landscape photography, wetlands, nature conservation, fine art photography, environmental awareness, minimalism, atmosphere, Polish landscape
