2026 QEPrize Trophy
The 2026 Create the Trophy competition winner is Kayla Taqiya from Indonesia. Kayla lives in Indonesia, where she is a a second-year Landscape Architecture student at IPB University. On her trophy, Kayla said, "The inspiration behind my trophy design came from the initials “Q” and “E,” representing both the QEPrize logo and Queen Elizabeth. I wanted the form to carry a direct connection to the identity of the prize while also standing as a symbol of engineering creativity. If you look closely, you can see the capital letters Q and E embedded within the structure, visible from different angles. This hidden detail makes the trophy not only a celebration of engineering achievement but also a tribute to the legacy and vision of the QEPrize."
Hafsa Tanveer Hassan and Laura Smith’s designs were recognised by the judges with Highly Commended awards. Hasfa's design drew inspiration from the symbol of the letter “S” as it symbolises strength, success, and spirit. Laura’s design drew on the structure of a honeycomb and was crafted so that a hexagon is visible from every angle. This ability to see the hexagonal form no matter where you stand serves as a powerful metaphor for the value of diverse perspectives in engineering.
Create the Trophy competition Highly Commended award recipient Laura Smith with Sir Ian Blatchford, Chair of the Create the Trophy judging panel
Finalists
Nandan Ambure
India
Cain Crawford
UK/Ireland
Deepanshu Garg
India
Hafsa Tanveer Hassan
Pakistan
Alicja Lenkiewicz
Poland
Šimon Macurek
UK/Czech Republic
Laura Smith
United Kingdom
Kayla Taqiya
Indonesia
Minuli Vitharana
United Kingdom
