Filipino resilience and creativity shine in the 2020 Asia Young Designer Awards.

A few weeks back, I had the honor of witnessing the much-awaited finale for the 2020 Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA). One of Asia's leading design competitions, the Asia Young Designer Awards was first launched in 2008 as part of Nippon Paint's vision to nurture the next generation of design talents. Since then, the award has become a motivational tool for Architectural and Interior Design students to develop their skills and hone their talents, work with and learn from key players in the industry, and meet fellow Architectural and Interior Design students across the region. 

Asia Young Designer Awards 2020.

The awarding ceremony, albeit held virtually, was truly an exciting one. I had the chance to see such amazing and interesting designs, and get to know the story behind each and every one of these impressive works. This year's theme was Forward: Human-centered Design, which calls for an innovative approach to problem-solving that starts with the people you’re designing for, and ends with a new solution to meet their unique needs.

Representing the Philippines were Paul John Jandoc from the University of Baguio and the gold winner for Architecture, and Margaret Therese S. Hagad from the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and the gold winner for Interior Design. 

A glimpse of Paul John Jandoc's "Silong".

Paul's work was entitled "Silong", which means "to take shelter" in the Tagalog vernacular. "Silong" is Paul's straightforward solution to housing and shelter issues, especially during these trying times. The overall idea of Paul's masterpiece is to strengthen the community bubble and to find ways for the community to commune and interact, not only with each other but more especially with nature.

Margaret Therese Hagad's masterpiece - "Bagasse: Mountain Resort".

Meanwhile, Margaret Hagad's work explores the relationship of neuroscience and interior design to give emphasis on spatial memory, all in support of hospitality and sustainability. Entitled "Bagasse: Mountain Resort", Margaret describes her work as a sanctuary of wellness and wilderness, a place for learning, protection, and discovery. Margaret's masterpiece was hailed as the Best Sustainable Design in the Interior Design Category.

Despite the pandemic, AYDA and Nippon Paint continue to provide opportunities for budding architects and interior designers to showcase their talents and push their design boundaries beyond the norm. I was truly impressed with the designs from the recently-concluded awards ceremony, and I am definitely looking forward to see more of them in AYDA 2021.