Site of the Year, our highly anticipated digital experience awards, has entered a new chapter this year. All competing projects must first be recognized as Site of the Month, ensuring that only the very best make it to the finals. The decision now lies in the hands and minds of a carefully selected committee. Curious who’s behind the judging process and what they’ll be looking for this year? Grab your backstage pass, we’re taking you inside the SOTY committee.
Who’s on the Committee this Year?
Building a website requires extensive backstage collaboration across departments, which is why we’ve selected experts from various teams to ensure a thorough evaluation process for Site of the Year. Much like a championship team, where players in different positions bring specialized skills toward a shared goal, each committee member contributes a unique perspective to ensure every website is evaluated from all angles. Representing a wide range of expertise, the committee includes members from teams such as product management and product marketing, UX design, and marketing.
David Slavík, a Product Strategist, brings his ability to evaluate how well projects align with business goals and if a digital transformation has met its full potential to the table. Similarly, Nicholas Weaver, Customer Success Manager, brings insight into the strategic impact of digital transformations and their ability to deliver meaningful value to users. As VP of New Business, Benjamin Franklin brings a valuable commercial perspective to the committee, one that complements design and content expertise with real-world business impact.
“An award-winning digital experience marries purposeful strategy, thoughtful UX and measurable outcomes; it solves a clear user need through suitable technology and shows data-backed gains in engagement or conversion. Creativity offers polish, but impact, accessibility and long-term resilience separate those that merely look the part from those that truly move the needle.”
When it comes to analyzing design and content, Marek Malik, a UX Designer, has an eye for user-centric web design and Head of Brand and Content, Jonathan Henault, brings his keen knowledge for recognizing compelling web content and strategy. With Petr Mojzisek, a Graphic Designer skilled in multimedia and multichannel delivery, and Katherine Harrison, Content Manager and an expert wordsmith and storyteller, the committee has never been stronger.
“Award-winning projects today are defined by how well they communicate their purpose through content and design. Winning websites have clear storytelling that genuinely connects with audiences and amplifies the organization’s purpose.”
“An award-winning digital experience feels trustworthy, has a clear, well-structured information hierarchy and great, intuitive UX. It also performs flawlessly and shows real depth through multichannel delivery, personalization, and other smart features.”
Debbie Tucek, VP of Product, and Miroslav Jirku, Product Marketing Lead, are also part of the committee; bringing their in-depth product knowledge to the table to create a well-rounded committee qualified to fairly assess the competition. Dominika Glueck, Kentico Education Specialist, adds a future-focused lens.
“For me, it’s about innovation, relevance, and timing. An award-winning project captures its audience’s attention and delivers exactly what they need. It should be technologically future-proof and reflect how people actually consume content today.”
Behind every great production is a full cast, and our committee is no exception; it extends beyond those in the spotlight here. With expert input from various teams, the committee ensures each website receives a well-rounded assessment based on the judging criteria.
How are Websites Critiqued?
Though websites from different industry categories will undoubtedly bring something a little different to the table, each website is analyzed based on the same criteria that can be recognized core, universal requirements for a showstopping website: UX (user experience), interactivity, graphic design, innovation, content quality, and effective use of Kentico capabilities.
UX (user experience) covers how intuitive and user-friendly the website is. Considerations include effortless navigation, and seamless access to crucial information. Examples of great UX include well-designed menus, search features, and accessibility considerations.
Interactivity is an assessment of how well the site is able to engage users through dynamic and participatory elements; like the use of forms for collecting information.
The graphic design category speaks for itself, it’s an examination of the visual appeal of the website, for example, how well the graphic design conveys the brand identity. Each site will be evaluated for visual harmony in this category. Content quality is a similar category, aiming to recognize content that stands out; for example, the strategic use of engaging event listings, timely updates, and well-organized multimedia elements that inform and captivate users while supporting the website’s purpose.
Innovation celebrates creative approaches and unique solutions that set a submission apart, highlighting originality and forward-thinking strategies. Equally important is the effective use of Kentico's capabilities, which assesses how well each submission leverages features like seamless integration to deliver measurable, impactful results.
Based on the criteria, one winner and two honorable mentions will be chosen for each industry category by the committee.
From Submission to Recognition
Site of the Year 2026 celebrates more than beautiful websites. It recognizes digital experiences that deliver clarity, impact, and lasting value.
All projects recognized as Site of the Month in 2025 are already on the path. We can’t wait to see this year’s winning designs. Stay tuned, the winners will be announced in February 2026, followed by public voting of the Community Choice Award, which will take place on LinkedIn for the first time.
Meanwhile, you can browse 2024 winners to discover outstanding designs still worth celebrating today.