• Global Submissions are welcome from 1 April 2020
• 50% discount on entries until 31 May 2020

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 15 April 2020 - Design thinking has become more important as the global citizens face new challenges every day. It is increasingly essential to challenge assumptions, redefine problems and identify alternative strategies as well as solutions that make a real impact in society, at a local and international level. With differences in culture, environment and technology across Asia, designers are bringing new projects and solutions that bring fresh perspectives into the limelight and foster global change are on the rise.

"Design thinking is a catalyst for change, providing new insights and ideas into today's built world through discovery and experimentation. The world is rapidly evolving and everyone needs to participate in change. The Awards are a great honour for designers that have created new means of living, entertainment and communication for Asian markets. We are excited to be able to foster innovative thinking and build creative confidence through our Awards programme," said Professor Eric Yim, Chairman of the HKDC.

Since 2003, the DFA Design for Asia Awards (DFA DFAA) has been celebrating the established and emerging designers from the region that push the creative boundaries to pave the way for the Asian design industry. The 2020 edition of the DFA DFAA opens for global submission from 1 April 2020. Launched by Hong Kong Design Centre with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor, the DFA DFAA recognises design excellence and outstanding designs from the region, covering 4 major design disciplines: Apparel & Accessory Design, Communication Design, Environmental Design and Product & Industrial Design in 23 categories. All projects that propagate Asian values and perspectives in the sphere of innovation and design globally are welcome to enter online.

To show supports and cares to the design community, the entry deadline of DFA Design for Asia Awards is extended to 17 July 2020, and the promotional period is extended to two months giving entrants an extra month to submit entries at a 50% discount from 1 April -- 31 May 2020 (Hong Kong time). The revised dates allow entrants to take more time to put entries together, at a lower cost, and to be recognised as the designers to look out for in the region in coming years.

Award entry details

DFA Design for Asia Awards 2020 covers 4 major design disciplines in 23 categories:

Award types

Category Award

Confer to entry by open submission: Gold, Silver, Bronze & Merit award.

Grand Awards

Gold Award winners of each Category Award and nominated outstanding design projects will be considered for the Grand Awards. Design projects that have made the most extraordinary contributions will be conferred: Grand Awards, Grand Award for Culture, Grand Award for Sustainability, Grand Award for Technology, and Grand Award with Special Mention.

Entry requirements

Design projects, launched in one or more Asian markets* between 1 January 2018 and 31 May 2020, are eligible for Awards submission by the design's owner or client, the brand's owner, designer or design consultancy.

*Asian markets include:

Afghanistan / Bangladesh / Bhutan / Brunei Darussalam / Cambodia / Hong Kong / India / Indonesia / Islamic Republic of Iran / Japan / Kazakhstan / Korea / Kyrgyzstan / Lao People's Dem. Republic / Macau / Mainland China / Malaysia / Maldives / Mongolia / Myanmar / Nepal / North Korea / Pakistan / Philippines / Singapore / Sri Lanka / Taiwan / Tajikistan / Thailand / Timor-Leste / Turkmenistan / Uzbekistan / Vietnam

Judging criteria

A judging panel composed of world-renowned design industry experts and professionals will assess each entry, according to 4 criteria:

(1) Impact in Asia

(2) Overall excellence

(3) Use of technology

(4) Commercial and societal success

Winners' Package**:

• Award Trophy & Certificate (Merit Award winners will receive certificates only)
• Awards Publication:

Each winner will receive a complimentary publication which includes introduction of all winning projects and the project teams behind. The publication will be distributed globally to different industry leaders to enhance the winners' exposure

• Exhibition showcase:

All winning projects will be showcased in the annual exhibition, and selectively in DFA Awards roving exhibitions in Asia

• Event attendance:

Invitation to the DFA Awards Presentation Ceremony and Business of Design Week (BODW) opening ceremony in December 2020 to engage in networking with designers and business leaders around the world. Selected winners will also be invited to deliver design thinking at global and regional events, talks and forums to further extend the global reach

• Awards Endorsement Mark:

Authorisation to use the globally recognised Endorsement Mark for self-promotion

** A mandatory Publication and Promotion Fee applies to all winners

Grand Award winners in 2019

More photos of and information of the 2019 Awards winners:

https://www.hkdc.hk/download/awards/DFA2019_Awards_Winners.zip

More Information of the DFA DFAA is available on the official website: dfaa.dfaawards.com

For news updates of the DFA Awards, please follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HKDC.Awards

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfa_awards/

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

About DFA Design for Asia Awards (www.dfaa.dfaawards.com)

Since 2003, the DFA Design for Asia Awardshonours and acknowledges user centric design projects and solutions thatembrace cultural values unique in Asian societies, with concerns forsustainable development and use of technology to enhance and improve thequality of life for people in the region. Organised by the Hong Kong DesignCentre and as one of the five programmes of DFA Awards, the DFA Design for AsiaAwards aims to celebrate design excellence and acknowledge outstanding designswith Asian perspectives, and has been a platform for design talents andcorporates to showcase their design projects internationally.

About Hong Kong Design Centre (www.hkdesigncentre.org)

Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) is anon-governmental organisation, and was founded in 2001 as a strategic partnerof the HKSAR Government in establishing Hong Kong as an international centre ofdesign excellence in Asia. Our public mission is to promote wider and strategicuse of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societalwell-being, with the aim of advancing Hong Kong as an international designcentre in Asia.

HKDC's flagship programmes include Business ofDesign Week (BODW; since 2002) -- Asia's leading annual event on design,innovation and brands; DFA Awards (since 2003) -- a well-recognised annualawards that celebrate outstanding designs with Asian perspectives; andKnowledge of Design Week (KODW; since 2006) -- an annual thematic programme thatgathers the global design community to explore how design can solve complexchallenges of our society.

We also manage a Design Incubation Programmeand Fashion Incubation Programme (since 2012 and 2016) -- 2-year programmes tonurture future design and fashion entrepreneurs; and launched FASHION ASIA HONGKONG (since 2016) -- an initiative combining conversations, interactions andcultural exchanges to position the city as an Asian hub for fashion trade andbusiness development.

About Create Hong Kong (www.createhk.gov.hk)

Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicatedagency set up by the HKSAR Government in June 2009. It is under the Communicationsand Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureauand dedicated to spearheading the development of creative industries in HongKong. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups,exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital andfostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK sponsors the DFA Design for AsiaAwards since 2011 and the flagship programmes organised by Hong Kong DesignCentre, among other projects to promote Hong Kong design.