Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) announced the winners of the annual DFA Awards, including 186 winners of the Design for Asia Awards and Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (HKYDTA), as well as the awardees of the three most prestigious awards, namely the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award (DFALAA), the Design Leadership Award (DLA) and the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer (WOCD), in recognition of their design excellence and achievements.

International design gurus such as KAN Tai-keung, Bjorn KUSOFFSKY, Patrick BRUCE, Antony CHAN, Murata CHIAKI and Paul PRIESTMAN graced the DFA Awards Presentation Ceremony as special guests and presented the trophies to the winners. In addition, a number of industry leaders as well as political and business celebrities from all around the globe also attended the BODW Gala Dinner to witness the presentation of the three highest accolades to the recipients of DFALAA, DLA and WOCD.

Now in its 12^th year, the DFA Awards aims to recognise the design excellence in Asia. It also honours and acknowledges design projects with potential to improve the quality and vibrancy of life in Asia, and create globally sustainable ideas. The DFA Awards consists of the prestigious DFALAA, DLA and WOCD which celebrate the extraordinary achievements and outstanding role-models for the design community; Design for Asia Awards in recognition of the most influential design projects in Asia; and HKYDTA nurturing the promising young talents in the design industry.

“We, Hong Kong Design Centre, acknowledge and commend the projects to illustrate to designers that there are many different facets and perspectives to design for Asia. This year’s Design for Asia witnesses the new face of Asian design in terms of science and technology innovation, environmental experiences, social concerns, and humanitarian issues. Looking to the future, we expect to see a growing new generation of Asian designers,” said Freeman Lau, Vice Chairman of HKDC’s Board of Directors.

Design for Asia Awards 2014

Design for Asia Awards is the flagship programme of Hong Kong Design Centre to celebrate design excellence and acknowledge outstanding designs with Asian perspectives. The total entries this year hit a record high of over 1,000 from 23 countries and regions in Asia and beyond. Every year, HKDC invites local and international professional designers and industry leaders to form a judging panel and deliberate the submissions.

This year, the judging panel consists of over 20 world-renowned design professionals from different corners of the world. A total of 168 awardees were announced this year to celebrate the crème de la crème in Asia, including 10 Grand Awards, 1 Culture Award, 1 Sustainability Award and 1 Technology Award, 10 Gold Awards, 25 Silver Awards, 52 Bronze Awards and 68 Merit Recognitions. Ms. Susie Ho Shuk-yee, JP, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), conferred the Design for Asia Awards 2014 – Grand Awards, Culture Award, Sustainability Award and Technology Award at the Presentation Ceremony upon the recipients in recognition of their design excellence.

Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (HKYDTA) 2014

Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (HKYDTA) was established in 2005 and has since emerged as an important platform for nurturing the promising young design talents based in Hong Kong, so as to maintain the city’s competitiveness and consolidate its role as an Asian design hub. The awards are conferred as a recognition of the up-and-coming design practitioners and design graduates aged 35 or below in the local design scene.

Award winners will have the opportunity to work in a renowned overseas design company or study abroad, and to contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s design and creative industries upon returning to the city. The organiser received an overwhelming response of nearly 200 entries this year, the highest number since its inception. The total sponsorship this year amounted to a record high of up to HK$ 4.75 million, much higher than the amount of HK$ 2 million last year, in an attempt to help more Hong Kong young talents to drive the local design industry.

DFA Lifetime Achievement Award (DFALAA), Design Leadership Award (DLA) and the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer (WOCD)

At the BODW Gala Dinner, the winners of DFA Lifetime Achievement Award (DFALAA), Design Leadership Award (DLA), and the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer (WOCD) were presented with the awards by the Guest of Honour, Mr. Gregory SO Kam-leung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. This year, the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award (DFALAA) went to the Japanese graphic design and typography guru Mr. Kohei SUGIURA. Currently as Director at the Research Institute of Asian Design, Kobe Design University, Sugiura’s work crosses a wide spectrum within three fields – book and magazine design; research on Asian forms and intricate diagrams. His unusual and unexpected designs do not convey the scent of any sweat or the sense of anything anywhere near putrid. Presumably this is due to the unique characteristic that defines what is Japanese: the Sayakesa/ Sugasugashisa – cleanliness and purity, yet something quintessentially more.

The Design Leadership Award (DLA) was conferred on one of Asia’s leading entrepreneurs Mr. HO Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings. He is engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels, resorts, spas, residential homes, retail galleries and other lifestyle activities around the world. As the majority of his Banyan Tree’s hotels and resorts are located in developing countries, they have often been the chief vehicles for economic development in these communities. Other than ensuring responsible constructions, Banyan Tree uplifts local communities by hiring local talents, encouraging community tourism and supporting indigenous crafts with its retail arms.

Principal of the internationally renowned architectural lighting consultancy – Isometrix Lighting + Design Ltd., Mr. Arnold Chan, was named the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer (WOCD). He has developed an innovative and versatile approach to lighting design that distinguishes his works from those of more traditional lighting engineers. By visualising the impact of light within a three-dimensional space, together with the help of an integrated mix of lighting effects that enhance the sense of spatial flow within the interiors, he maximises the full potential of lighting as a creative tool, giving each building a unique identity.

About Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC)

Design for Society is a major undertaking of HKDC – a publicly-funded, non-profit organisation established in 2002 with the support of the design industry in (i) promoting and celebrating design excellence; (ii) championing strategic and wider use of design for creating business value and community benefits; and (iii) educating the professions and the community to be resourceful champions for sustained developments through design and innovation.

The long-term success of HKDC requires continued feedback and staunch support from the community and different professions across various design fields, education, commercial, voluntary and public sectors. www.hkdesigncentre.org

This press release is issued by Mazarine Asia Pacific on behalf of Hong Kong Design Centre.

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Esther Chan
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Hong Kong Design Centre

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Ivan Kwok

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