A showcase of design excellence in Asia
CHINA – 30 October 2019 – DFA Awards 2019 celebrates established and emerging designers that push creative boundaries and pave the way for the Asian design industry. Creatives from across the region entered their innovative design projects into the DFA Design for Asia Awards (DFAA) and talented young designers also submitted their overseas plans to DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (DFA HKYDTA), part of the five major DFA Awards programmes to recognise local and international design professionals and experts.
Organised by The Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as the lead sponsor, 211 DFA Design for Asia Awards and 16 DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award winners will be recognised at the Presentation Ceremony on Wednesday 4 December 2019 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Awards offers a stage to some of the most dedicated talents, encouraging the growth of creative industry and providing a platform to establish networks with influential designers and business leaders.
“We at Hong Kong Design Centre believe that design can improve quality of life, promote social innovation and preserve cultural heritage. It makes the built environment a better place to live, work and play. The DFA Awards programme is one of the most prestigious and important awards in the design industry. We are delighted to see talent from across the region showcase their best work with an increase of 10% in DFAA submissions this year. On the other hand, the DFA HKYDTA encouraging and nurturing reputable and future talents are invaluable to the Hong Kong design community,” said Professor Eric Yim, Chairman of the HKDC.
Quality design aids quality life
An acknowledgment of outstanding design in Asia, DFA Design for Asia Awards raises awareness about the value of good design as an essential component in quality of life for a betterment. Measured by four perspectives, namely, overall excellence, use of technology, impact in Asia, as well as commercial and societal success, it appreciates and celebrates the design that embodies Asian aesthetics, and culture while bringing about new design trends.
In 2019, it received over 1,100 entries from 24 economies, a reflection of the awards prestige and the growth of Asian design power. Japan tops the leaderboard, followed by Mainland China and then HKSAR. Key design themes that have naturally emerged include: Green is the new black — highlighting sustainable products and apparel design; A sojourn for the senses — using the five elements to create artistic installations to create destinations of the future; Old is gold — revitalising traditional craftsmanship showcasing how young creatives can keep local culture alive through design; Design longevity — creations that last through generations; and Design for an empathetic world — reconnecting people, nature and self through design excellence.
The judging panel comprised of industry leaders and experts recognised 211 design projects for their design excellence, including 9 Grand Awards, 1 Grand Award for Culture, 1 Grand Award for Sustainability, 1 Grand Award for Technology, 7 Grand Award with Special Mention and 192 Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards from four design disciplines — Apparel and Accessory Design, Communication Design, Environmental Design, and Product and Industrial Design — across a wide range of specialist categories.
Cultivating and nurturing young design talent in Asia
DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award is granted to design practitioners or graduates contributing to Hong Kong’s ever-expanding creative industry, aged 35 or below. This year, 13 of 16 awardees will receive a financial sponsorship amount up to HK$5,000,000 in total for six-to-twelve-month overseas work attachment or study to further stimulate design thinking.
Winners have showcased phenomenal talent across industries. Apparel and accessory designers entered fashion capsule collections, SS19 collections in fashion shows globally and international collaborations. Communication designers highlighted their work including typography, visual identity, and graphics merging with art. Product and Industrial designers shared a mix of homeware, household appliances, professional and commercial products, information technology, and leisure and entertainment product designs, from watering pots to chairs, speakers to acoustic strings. Finally, environmental designers continue blending of architectural and social responsibility, hinting at the future of our built world.
Design for Asia: DFA Awards 2019
An annual publication to celebrate the current year’s winners, and to introduce the design philosophy and share views and comments on the trends and the values of Design for Asia by the international panel of judges. The coffee table book is available from December onwards at DFA Awards official website.
