Through her work across four continents, Montana Cherney has learned how design can support meaningful and lasting change. Not just through the solutions it creates, but through the capabilities it builds in others. As Innovation Coach at the International Baccalaureate, and through her work advancing innovation in education, healthcare, financial services, government, and public services, she's learned that the most lasting impact often comes from what happens after the designer leaves the room.

"What excites me most is building teams' capabilities in design and innovation, both mindset and skillset, and celebrating the moments when those capabilities become visible, shared, and passed on," Montana says. Her work has ranged from digitally-enabled financial savings products for smallholder farmers to brand and service delivery strategies for HIV prevention, co-designed with girls and women in Sub-Saharan Africa—all built through partnerships with communities, system stakeholders, innovators, governments, and policymakers.

The moments that matter most to Montana reveal themselves in unexpected ways. "Some of the most meaningful moments in my work come from seeing the ripple effects of coaching," she explains. "When colleagues in multi-governmental organizations describe feeling supported enough to openly share challenges and ideas, or when senior officials in a Ministry of Health, newly introduced to human-centered design, confidently lead co-creation workshops and articulate the value of an HCD approach for women's health in their own words."

Beyond Optimism

Asked about her concerns for the design field, Montana reframes the question itself. "At the moment, I am less worried about the world of design and more worried about the world itself," she says. "Designers have long been optimistic and adaptive, and the question I continue to grapple with is how the field can remain resilient, navigating uncertainty with agility and creativity, not only to produce new solutions, but also to model new ways of working and collaborating that contribute meaningfully to broader societal challenges."

It's a perspective that acknowledges design's role extends beyond deliverables to the processes and relationships that shape how change happens.

Shifting Roles

As jury captain for the Design for Social Impact category in the 2026 Core77 Design Awards, Montana brings this understanding of design's evolving position in systems change. Her advice to entrants reflects a fundamental shift in how designers might understand their work.

"For the Design for Social Impact category specifically, I would encourage entrants to reflect on the role they play as designers," Montana says. "When designing for social impact, the designer's role often shifts, from being the primary problem-solver to serving as a coach, convener, and coordinator, applying creative approaches to support others in shaping solutions throughout the entire journey, from discovery to delivery."

It's an invitation to think beyond the artifact and toward the ecosystem—to show not just what was designed, but how the design process itself enabled others to create lasting change.

2025 Winner

The 2025 Professional winner in the Design for Social Impact was The Lotus Ring from Julia Lemle at Lotus. With this ring you can control anything—lights, fans, appliances, even TVs. With this product you can convert any space into an accessible space in seconds—and you can take it with you wherever you go.

If you have a forward-thinking idea that could spark a fire with our jurors, share it with us through the 2026 Core77 Design Awards. Enter the C77DA before February 27 to lock in regular pricing.