Your Final Chance To Be Part Of A’ Design Award 2023—Entries Closing (Very) Soon
The early leg of the year signals new beginnings and opportunities—why not kick things off on an empowering note with the A’ Design Award & Competition? One of the largest design accolades in the world, the A’ Design Award promotes the betterment of society through creativity and innovation, and hence welcomes ideas from brands and makers of all design disciplines, no matter their experience, worldwide.
From graphics and visual communication design, packaging design, and furniture, decorative items and homeware design, to architecture, building and structure design, fashion and travel accessories design, and cultural heritage and culture industry design, the competition recognizes excellence in all kinds of fields. These are just the tip of the iceberg—the event celebrates many more categories too, which you can explore here.
A’ Design Award is now accepting the final submissions for its 2023–2024 round. Interested participants have until February 28 to send in their best work, whether conceptual or realized, so act quick. Nominate your designs for a chance to get on the global stage here.
Laureates will receive the esteemed A’ Design Award trophy, a winners’ certificate, tickets to the special black-tie Gala Night for the ceremony and networking, inclusion in the annual yearbook, a spot in the World Design Rankings, an opportunity for a ‘Designer of the Day’ spot, prestige and PR publicity, press coverage, allocations for physical and digital showcases, a lifelong license to use the A’ Design Award Winner logo, and more.
Entries will be judged by an international panel of jury members consisting of leading designers, academics, and members of the press.
As usual, DesignTAXI will announce the results for the winning works on April 15, 2023. Stay tuned! For the time being, check below for a roundup of interesting projects from A’ Design alums.
Rice Wine Town Reception Room Cultural Exhibition
“The design makes full use of the landscape advantages of the site,” note Wei Zhang and Kesuo Wu. “The three-story building volume is stacked and retreated back from south to north, forming a number of roof terraces overlooking the Dashu River.” The site was once a facility for the production for rice wine, and “now its red brick chimney is preserved.”
Rice Wine Town Reception Room Cultural Exhibition by Wei Zhang and Kesuo Wu - gad
The structure draws on “the strong functional adaptability of traditional wooden frame architecture and Domino architecture system,” they add.
Rice Wine Town Reception Room Cultural Exhibition by Wei Zhang and Kesuo Wu - gad
Rice Wine Town Reception Room Cultural Exhibition by Wei Zhang and Kesuo Wu - gad
Mushroom Shelf
“I usually create ideas from the nature around me. This was inspired by the sight of mushrooms growing out of a wooden sign in my neighborhood. I felt [their] vitality and freedom of the mushrooms,” explains Shota Urasaki. “The shelf of camphor tree, sculpted to look like a mushroom, is embedded with magnets. Therefore, they can be placed freely. The ‘mushrooms’ are attached to a thin steel plate that rises up from the floor.”
Mushroom Shelf by Shota Urasaki
Urasaki shares that the larger ‘mushrooms’ can support a variety of objects, while the smaller ones are perfect for postcards or memos.
Mushroom Shelf by Shota Urasaki
Mushroom Shelf by Shota Urasaki
The Bevel Sofa
“We wanted a Tetris-type sofa where different pieces come together to make a warm and comfortable sofa,” recounts Sara Hayat. “While working with different shapes and figuring out how we wanted to present this idea, we settled on the beveled edges for each cushion, which inspired the rest of the piece too.”
“The sofa is made from several cushions linked together and placed on a wooden platform,” Hayat explains.
The Bevel Sofa by Sara Hayat
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage
“The pine cone was part of the inspiration for me as the architect,” reveals Manuela Hardy, who also grasped the chance to fulfill her childhood dream of building cabins in the woods. “I wanted to take it a step further—namely mixing comfort with nostalgia and closeness to nature.”
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy
“Visitors coming to Trekronaa can lie down under the duvet while viewing the pine forest and starry sky—and wake up to the chirping of birds, the stream that trickles, and the sun that shine through the trees,” Hardy pictures. It’s “a place where you can get a piece of your life back.”
The cottage sleeps four to five occupants, includes a kitchen and a small bathroom, and can be transported “without leaving a footprint.”
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space
“A natural but artistic atmosphere” was the brief given to S.P.I Landscape for the making of this cherry blossom town. “The project respects the original natural mountain atmosphere and the essence of the orchard,” says Hu Sun. “The design of a pure cherry orchard, elevated in the sky… [and] winding roads covered in cherry blossom petals complete the impression of the forest valley.”
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space by Hu Sun - S.P.I
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space by Hu Sun - S.P.I
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space by Hu Sun - S.P.I
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space by Hu Sun - S.P.I
Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town Art and Cultural Space by Hu Sun - S.P.I
Dreamscape Multimedia Installation
“Dreamscape is a voluptuous sculptural form that appears to float above the K11 MUSEA Bohemian Garden [in Hong Kong]. It regularly disperses mist; thus, from afar, it appears as an illuminated white shell emerges from a billowing cloud, tempting guests to engage in a relaxing urban misty moment,” illustrates Nelson Chow.
Dreamscape Multimedia Installation by Nelson Chow
Each dome is anchored onto six feet “that touch the ground lightly, emphasizing an ephemeral shared experience,” Chow continues. “Inside, the 250 illuminated bubble lamps are timed to evoke dreaming in a sleeping cloud.”
Dreamscape Multimedia Installation by Nelson Chow
Dreamscape Multimedia Installation by Nelson Chow
Dreamscape Multimedia Installation by Nelson Chow
Toji Candle Boxes
This candle set is inspired by the winter solstice, the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night. “The ancient Turkic people would gather together and light a huge bonfire to celebrate the end of the long cold night… The warmth overcomes the long cold night,” says Xiaoman Fu. “Therefore, the sundial is used as the brand logo.”
Toji Candle Boxes by Xiaoman Fu
Humanity emanates from the packaging, adds Fu. “The four stories represent courage, trust, eternity and love.”
Toji Candle Boxes by Xiaoman Fu
Toji Candle Boxes by Xiaoman Fu
Toji Candle Boxes by Xiaoman Fu
Toji Candle Boxes by Xiaoman Fu
Wine and Chess Case
Andrei Filatov wanted to create a winning case that not only combined two passions—wine and chess—but also “will never be thrown away” after use. “This design is unique because the wine case containing six bottles is combined with a chess game.”
Wine and Chess Case by Andrei Filatov
Wine and Chess Case by Andrei Filatov
EyeWris Reading Glasses
“The idea for EyeWris began as a response to a need; specifically, the needs of my father and co-owner,” shares Kenzo Singer. “He needed a better solution to reading glasses, so that he could always have them with him. My background in structural engineering proved pivotal. As it turns out, physics at the scale of a skyscraper also applies to something as small as a pair of glasses.”
EyeWris Reading Glasses by Kenzo Singer
“On the face, the glasses are worn like traditional eyewear, with the exception of the ‘arms,’ which gently but securely grip the temples. EyeWris reading glasses wrap securely around the wrist so that they are always within reach, eliminating the daily frustration of not having reading glasses when needed,” Singer elaborates. “On the wrist, the glasses function similarly to a bracelet.”
EyeWris Reading Glasses by Kenzo Singer
“It takes one hand, one motion, and one second to change the glasses from wrist-wear to eyewear. The haptic experience of the folding mechanism truly brings the glasses to life.”
EyeWris Reading Glasses by Kenzo Singer
EyeWris Reading Glasses by Kenzo Singer
EyeWris Reading Glasses by Kenzo Singer
Love is Invisible Packaging
En Ke dreamed up these ethereal cannisters for T-shirts in the wake of the pandemic, when discrimination against the Asian community was on an all-time high. The idea is that love dissolves intolerance, and is therefore invisible like water.
Love is Invisible Packaging by En Ke
The merchandise was commissioned by a US nonprofit dedicated to providing childhood cancer care, and its sales went into raising funds for the charity’s efforts.
Love is Invisible Packaging by En Ke
Love is Invisible Packaging by En Ke
Love is Invisible Packaging by En Ke
Voice Mask Device That Mutes Your Voice
The team at Kunihiko Sato Innovation Laboratory first explored the idea of remote work being the “future of work” way back in 2015. Although it foresaw this prospect happening in 2025, “the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the change,” says the lab. “People can now work from the comfort of their home or their favorite café. However, this created a new problem: meetings at home or a café can disturb others and lead to unwanted information disclosure.”
Voice Mask Device That Mutes Your Voice by Kunihiko Sato Innovation Laboratory
“Voice Mask is a concept wearable device that mutes whatever you say aloud while wearing it. It utilizes noise-cancelling technology to mask the user’s voice by emitting the opposite sound wave,” the team explains. This way, users can conduct meetings in public without making a nuisance or leaking confidential information, it adds.
Voice Mask Device That Mutes Your Voice by Kunihiko Sato Innovation Laboratory
Voice Mask Device That Mutes Your Voice by Kunihiko Sato Innovation Laboratory
Voice Mask Device That Mutes Your Voice by Kunihiko Sato Innovation Laboratory
Shade Partition Shelf
This shelf borrows from shoji, traditional Japanese doors or room dividers made up of wooden frames and translucent paper. Yuto Hiramatsu, the designer, notes that “incorporating Japanese cultural fittings into furniture and applying Washi to more familiar stuff such as wooden frame” introduces a sense of hominess and warmth into a space.
Shade Partition Shelf by Yuto Hiramatsu
Shade Partition Shelf by Yuto Hiramatsu
Shade Partition Shelf by Yuto Hiramatsu
Shade Partition Shelf by Yuto Hiramatsu
Shade Partition Shelf by Yuto Hiramatsu
Arc Carry-on Luggage
“While I was researching airports and flights and looking for areas for design improvement, I found one of the significant reasons for flight delays is caused by baggage [inconveniences],” says Dami Kim. “Deep inside the overhead bin lies substantial unoccupied space where people squeeze in their shopping bags and jackets. As the cylindrical fuselage of an airplane is always round, it can cause lots of dead space.”
Arc Carry on Luggage by Dami Kim
“Arc’s curved corner replicates the inner curve of the overhead bin,” Kim outlines. The concept enables airlines to “utilize the overhead bin space more efficiently and potentially [allow] more luggage space.”
Arc Carry on Luggage by Dami Kim
Arc Carry on Luggage by Dami Kim
Arc Carry on Luggage by Dami Kim
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen
Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni culled Swiss modernist typography from 1960 to current styles to design a typeface that feels classic yet digitally legible.
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni
In the end, they drew from reference binders “to give the idea of a modern digital typeface presented in a retro feel.”
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni
SP Saffron Grotesk Type Specimen by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni
Unique Me Grapes
No two people in the world are alike, Agilis Design posits, and it decided to apply this notion to illustrate the “uniqueness and specialness” of grapes. “We came up with an idea to think of the grapes as people through the use of hand-drawn emoji-like illustrations.”
Unique Me Grapes by Agilis Design Graphic Design
Unique Me Grapes by Agilis Design Graphic Design
Grassy Premiados Coffee Packaging
The idea for this sleek coffee packaging came from seeds and the silhouettes of Brazilian modernist architecture. Eventually, this planted the seed for a more evolved concept based on “the shape of the coffee bean and the curves of Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture,” reveals Dimitri Lociks.
Grassy Premiados Coffee Packaging by Dimitri Lociks
Grassy Premiados Coffee Packaging by Dimitri Lociks
The Grassy Premiados Coffee packaging was designed to create “a high-impact visual display on shelves at an affordable cost,” notes Lociks. “Its organic shapes are also modular, which allows for stacking and a very differentiated way of displaying on shelves and showcases.”
Grassy Premiados Coffee Packaging by Dimitri Lociks
Grassy Premiados Coffee Packaging by Dimitri Lociks
The Porthole Wall Light
Harry-Hongwei Yang leaned into the joy and anticipation he gets on the flight ahead of a vacation, and created a wall light inspired by airplane portholes. The fixture mimics the soft illumination that peeks into the aircraft when you lift up the window, the designer details.
The Porthole Wall Light by Harry-Hongwei Yang
The Porthole Wall Light by Harry-Hongwei Yang
The Porthole Wall Light by Harry-Hongwei Yang
The Porthole Wall Light by Harry-Hongwei Yang
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters
Sharp champagne panels line the entrances of this building “like delicate tiaras,” explains Evolution Design. The regal sight dances with natural light, as well—forming “playful reflections of pedestrians arriving and leaving the towers and glow up in different shades depending on the daylight.”
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters by Evolution Design
Evolution Design adds that the building isn’t just for 10,000 employees who work here, but it also welcomes the general public. There’s a central reception area, restaurants, coffee shops, a conference hall, and “a large event space styled as a stepped amphitheater.”
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters by Evolution Design
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters by Evolution Design
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters by Evolution Design
Entry Building to Sberbank Entrance to Headquarters by Evolution Design
Karst Water Filtration Staircase
“Karst, a modular staircase designed for Governors Island in New York, is like a solutional cave for people to see and hear the flowing water, with a water-filtering system that brings the sensation of nature into the house,” details Chi-Hao Chiang. The versatile structure is designed for both indoor and outdoor use
Karst Water Filtration Staircase by Chi-Hao Chiang
Karst Water Filtration Staircase by Chi-Hao Chiang
Karst Water Filtration Staircase by Chi-Hao Chiang
Karst Water Filtration Staircase by Chi-Hao Chiang
Karst Water Filtration Staircase by Chi-Hao Chiang
OmniFiber Self Sensing Morphing Textiles
“OmniFiber is a high-pressure microfluidic fiber technology for robotic textiles and garments. The fiber is engineered to sense its own physical deformation and mechanically respond to it,” shares Ozgun Kilic Afsar. The smart textile “has versatile morphing behavior such as contracting, extending, bending and coiling with immediate response.
OmniFiber Self Sensing Morphing Textiles by Ozgun Kilic Afsar
“This allows a myriad of applications including kinesthetic wearables for skill learning and transfer, dynamic fitting garments, and textile-based haptic devices for telepresence applications,” Afsar elaborates.
OmniFiber Self Sensing Morphing Textiles by Ozgun Kilic Afsar
OmniFiber Self Sensing Morphing Textiles by Ozgun Kilic Afsar
OmniFiber Self Sensing Morphing Textiles by Ozgun Kilic Afsar
Don’t forget to register your work before February 28 for a shot at global recognition at the A’ Design Award & Competition.
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