Nippon Paint reaches out to young interior designers
Design an architectural piece that uses a unique way to address a need or envision a space that takes into consideration the social, economical and cultural aspects of design, making it conducive for its users to carry out their activities. Succeed in one of these tasks and win a six-month internship at architectural, space planning, interior designing giant Lor Calma & Partners or at the world-renowned Aidea Philippines Inc. In addition, a P50,000 cash prize await the two winners—Architecture and Interior Design categories—of this year’s edition of the Asia Young Designer Award (Ayda).
Both winners in the architecture and in the Interior Design category (both are open to third-year and onward students) will also get a chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience in Bali, Indonesia, (sponsored by Nippon Paint) as well as represent the Philippines in the regional round where the winner in each category receives the much-coveted The Platinum Award plus $1,000 cash.
Formerly known as the Nippon Paint Young Designer Award, the AYDA encourages participants to create a design that has something unique to offer design professionals, commercial buyers and the community alike.
This year’s competition is focused on the theme “Be Bold. Be Free. Be You” and according to Michael Chung, general manager of Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, contestants will only have to consider the following: Creativity (he originality of the idea); efficiency (practicality and organization); comfort (the ease of use); sustainability (the ability to last through the future); purpose (the scale of the need and how well it fulfils its purpose); heart for the community (catering to the community’s needs); and green design (eco-friendly designs that are beneficial to the environment).
Submission of entries would be until Oct. 15 (for more information and to download an entry form, visit http://www.youngdesigneraward.
“Indeed, this year’s edition places the competition on a higher echelon of gathering young talent across borders and spurring innovative thinking on how to make life healthier, more convenient and eco-efficient through design,” said Chung. “It has to be a brave new idea that no one has ever seen, which carries commercial value and yet pays careful attention to the well-being and green sustainability of its surrounding community. Our judges are looking for a well-thought-out design that is both phenomenal and useful, executed in top-notch quality to match.”
From its debut that invited 87 entries solely from Malaysia, Chung said the competition (as of last year) was able to gather over 2,500 entries from 12 different countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, China, Japan and Hong Kong.
This year, AYDA now extends to three additional countries, namely Sri Lanka, India and Taiwan.
“Considering this competition has since evolved to include participants from 15 countries in the region, we decided this year to rebrand the Nippon Paint Young Designer Award as the Asia Young Designer Award. the AYDA now reflects its widening reach and its increasing significance to the design scene in Asia,” said Chung.
For the entries here in the Philippines, their works will be scrutinized by this year’s set of judges composed of industry luminaries namely (for the interior design category) interior designers Marichi Costelo, Jose Maria Hubilla, Wilfrid Nicholo Magcase, Belen Morey, Michael Pizarro, Mel Reyes and Vincent Louie Tan. Judges for the architecture category are architects Nina Bailon-Arce, Consuelo Buencamino, Jose Ramon Carunungan, Chona Elvas-Ponce, Maria Benita Regala, Abelardo M. Tolentino Jr. and interior designer Eduardo Calma.
Aside from the Gold winners, other AYDA awards to be given include Silver (P30,000 cash and plaque); eight finalists (P10,000 cash); Best Color Choice (P5,000 cash); Best Green Innovation (P5,000 cash); Best Professor/Adviser (P10,000 cash for the Gold awardee); Best College/University (P10,000 cash plus P10,000 paint voucher for the Gold Awardee); Best Supporting College/University (P5,000 cash prize plus P5,000 paint voucher for the school with the most number of submitted entries).