A’ Design Award: Enter Your Best Work Today & Take It To New, Soaring Heights
Year after year, the A’ Design Award & Competition—one of the most reputed design awards globally—recognizes and showcases unique and exemplary work in design, and the names behind them. More than ever and across industries, design takes on a central role in facilitating meaningful change, and the competition aims to put the word out on the inspiring creators who drive it, whether young or veteran.
If you needed a sign to jumpstart your career, here it is. The competition is accepting submissions for its 2021–2022 edition from now until September 30, 2021.
From visual communication and architecture to packaging, sustainable products, photography and design for public awareness, there are ideas and finished projects spanning 100 categories that the A’ Design Award is looking to share on its far-reaching stage. Many more categories can be found right here.
Laureates will gain their shot at recognition, publicity, global credibility, PR and networking opportunities, and visibility by the press. Along with their comprehensive A’ Design Award winners’ kit, they’ll also receive the prestigious A’ Design Award trophy, a winner’s manual detailing how they can better leverage their new status, a printed design excellence certificate, inclusion in the World Design Rankings, the A’ Design Award yearbook, gala-night invitations for two to the award ceremony, both online and physical participation and allocation at the winners’ exhibition, free sales listing at SaloneDelDesigner, and lifelong licensing of the award winners’ logo.
All submissions will be judged by an international and multidisciplinary jury panel of experienced design professionals, academics, industry experts, entrepreneurs, members of the press, and more.
Register your work here by September 30, 2021. DesignTAXI will announce the winners on April 15, 2022.
And, without further ado, here are some winning projects from previous A’ Design Award participants.
Balance Desk and Work Manager
Drawing from digital interfaces for an intuitive experience, industrial designers Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio envision “a new hybrid experience for the user.” They’ve created a “multi-functional work and desk manager that inspires a more organized, personalized, and productive work experience.”
Balance Desk and Work Manager by Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio
Balance Desk and Work Manager by Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio
Balance Desk and Work Manager by Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio
Balance Desk and Work Manager by Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio
Bubble Chair
This chair is “not what it seems,” prefaces architect Grigorii Gorkovenko. “From lightly inflated visual forms you can expect airy lightness: but the frame itself is cast by hand from a very robust aluminum.” He says aluminum itself has “plasticity.”
“Soft on the outside, hard on the touch, strange in its form, with unusual texture… This chair can be an art piece in the hallway of a collector, or it can attract visitors’ attention in the lobby of a public space. But what can be said about BUBBLE for sure—is that nobody can call it boring.”
Bubble Chair by Grigorii Gorkovenko
Bubble Chair by Grigorii Gorkovenko
Bubble Chair by Grigorii Gorkovenko
Game Fuel Beverage
“Adrenaline Rush, an established, powerful and bold energy drink brand available in Russia, created Adrenaline Game Fuel as a special edition offering to celebrate the gaming occasion and e-sports culture,” explains PepsiCo Design and Innovation, hoping to “shift preconceived notions of the gaming community… while also giving gamers energy and confidence for maximum performance.”
Game Fuel Beverage by PepsiCo Design and Innovation
Game Fuel Beverage by PepsiCo Design and Innovation
Game Fuel Beverage by PepsiCo Design and Innovation
Hotel New Grand Ready-to-Eat Meals Packaging
Graphic designer Kazuaki Kawahara realized this ready-to-eat meal packaging for the classic Hotel New Grand in Yokohama, Japan. “We wanted to convey the tradition and prestige of the hotel with a little wit… With a design based on the motif of a stockpot, this product brings the flavors of the finest dishes prepared by top chefs working in hotel kitchens to the comfort of your home.”
Hotel New Grand Ready-to-eat Meals Packaging by Kazuaki Kawahara
Hotel New Grand Ready-to-eat Meals Packaging by Kazuaki Kawahara
Hotel New Grand Ready-to-eat Meals Packaging by Kazuaki Kawahara
Hotel New Grand Ready-to-eat Meals Packaging by Kazuaki Kawahara
Qwork Pod
“The Qwork pod is an anti-infection hexagonal hive-like office solution, which offers flexibility to suit different spatial needs, and can be customized to fit any office layout,” notes architect and multidisciplinary designer Mohamed Mostafa Radwan. “It features an automatic handless airtight acrylic door, controlled by facial recognition, and ventilation fans with built-in air purifiers. The pod is envisioned as made of hygiene-friendly non-porous nanomaterials that protect the pod user from viral infection.”
Detailing how the office pods could be used, the designer elaborates, “The pod owner approaches the pod, it detects his/her face… opening the door, operating the fans and filters, and turning on the light. It shuts the door automatically upon entry, and stays operative for as long as the work time continues. Upon leaving the pod the pod shuts down and doesn’t open until he/she returns.”
Qwork Pod Office Furniture by Mohamed Mostafa Radwan
Qwork Pod Office Furniture by Mohamed Mostafa Radwan
Qwork Pod Office Furniture by Mohamed Mostafa Radwan
The Board Skateboard
While skateboards are meant to be portable, industrial designer Chia-Wei Chen says carrying them around can be cumbersome. The Board, however, defies the stereotype. It’s “made from 57 interlocking pivot hinges… transforming the classic cruiser shape into a perfect circle.” When that happens, the skateboard can be easily stored in a backpack or could serve as a home décor item, without taking up too much space.
The Board Skateboard by Chia-Wei Chen
The Board Skateboard by Chia-Wei Chen
The Board Skateboard by Chia-Wei Chen
The Board Skateboard by Chia-Wei Chen
Briiv Air Purification
“Air purification is rife by plastics, glass and other unsustainable materials. We felt there is a better way to do things and set out to incorporate bioplastics and as much renewable material as possible into ‘briiv’ to deliver clean air that’s better for the planet, our increasingly scarce resources and for energy usage,” note sustainable product designers James Whitfield and Sean Sykes.
“briiv is a new take on the air purifier. Using renewable and natural materials to filter the air in your home or office environment, briiv creates clean, safe, breathable air via an innovative filter system. briiv’s filters of moss, coconut husk and a silk-carbon matrix perform as effectively as an air purifier of the same low-power class.”
Briiv Air Purification by James Whitfield and Sean Sykes
Briiv Air Purification by James Whitfield and Sean Sykes
Briiv Air Purification by James Whitfield and Sean Sykes
Briiv Air Purification by James Whitfield and Sean Sykes
Briiv Air Purification by James Whitfield and Sean Sykes
PANDAID Website for Infectious Diseases
Along with over 100 volunteers, design strategist Eisuke Tachikawa created a public service website called PANDAID to “make the most of our creativity and design wisdom to heal the pain in our world,” hoping to guide people through these baffling times with innovative infographics and materials. The website supports six languages, and more will be added in time.
Pandaid Website For Infectious Diseases by Eisuke Tachikawa
Pandaid Website For Infectious Diseases by Eisuke Tachikawa
Pandaid Website For Infectious Diseases by Eisuke Tachikawa
Pandaid Website For Infectious Diseases by Eisuke Tachikawa
Meama Dropper Coffee Capsules Vending
Coffee factory Meama created a modernized vending machine to dispense coffee maker capsules. Users can operate it by scanning a QR code to launch the accompanying smartphone app, where they’ll be able to customize their brews and the number of pods they wish to buy. The machine is also devised such that the customer gets their money back if there’s an error, “so there will never be any cases when you pay and do not get your product.”
Meama Dropper Coffee Capsules Vending by Meama
Meama Dropper Coffee Capsules Vending by Meama
Constellation Lighter Packaging
Representing the 12 zodiac signs, this lighter set “engages the user by lighting up,” describe designers Sunhwa Lee and Wenyuan Chen. “The lighters can be directly placed on top of the inner packaging as magnets are attached underneath. Moreover, the packaging can be used as a display tool—the user can make it stand by pulling out a triangular bar which is hidden on the back side of the packaging,” they add.
Constellation Lighter Packaging by Sunhwa Lee and Wenyuan Chen
Constellation Lighter Packaging by Sunhwa Lee and Wenyuan Chen
Constellation Lighter Packaging by Sunhwa Lee and Wenyuan Chen
Constellation Lighter Packaging by Sunhwa Lee and Wenyuan Chen
Cork Block Sofa
“The physical, elastic and tactile quality of the material and the possibility to add upholstery solutions with different colors, provides several different comfort and ambience solutions, achieving different supports to the coccyx, back and arms, for different effective comfort levels,” describes sculptor Miguel Arruda. Plus, it looks pretty cool.
Cork Block by Miguel Arruda
Cork Block by Miguel Arruda
Cork Block by Miguel Arruda
Cork Block by Miguel Arruda
Action Means Everything Campaign Posters
“[2020] has been a difficult year that has raised lots of questions and challenges for all of us,” says communications designer Hsiao-Wen Hu. And while people have been inquisitive about certain issues for a while, “2020 has finally forced us to act.”
Her campaign proposal “serves as a comment and a reminder for society that changes will only come if we choose to act… [and] advocates the importance of actions over empty promises, making people notice the changes and empowerment brought by active participation.”
Action Means Everything Campaign Posters by Hsiao-Wen Hu
Action Means Everything Campaign Posters by Hsiao-Wen Hu
Action Means Everything Campaign Posters by Hsiao-Wen Hu
Czero Device for Reducing Viral Infections
“Czero is a wearable device that vibrates when your hand is near your face, reminding you not to touch it which would reduce transmission of infections notably. The ring is linked to an app that tracks your health and also alerts you to wash your hands before turning off,” shares designer Sophia Neill. She notes its usefulness for travelers amid a time of heavy border restrictions.
Czero Device for Reducing Viral Infections by Sophia Neill
Czero Device for Reducing Viral Infections by Sophia Neill
Czero Device for Reducing Viral Infections by Sophia Neill
E Beta Electric Cafe Cruiser Electric Scooter
Adopting a “modern retro design,” this two-seater e-scooter concept borrows elements from classic motorcycles to breed familiarity among new users. “Main features are [a] light aluminium frame, battery range up to 89km [55 miles],” along with a touchscreen “which you can control even while driving with gloves, using the controls on the handlebars,” says industrial designer Radek Micka.
E Beta Electric Cafe Cruiser Electric Scooter by Radek Micka
E Beta Electric Cafe Cruiser Electric Scooter by Radek Micka
River To Ocean Wearable Sculpture
For London Fashion Week, Yiyao Nie 3D-printed sculptures resembling “splashing liquid frozen in time” and worked with fellow fashion designer Qiongxin Kou to transform them into hats, vests, and accessories for the runway in a collection entitled River to Ocean. “The wearable sculptures mimic different forms in moments of how water drops on flowers or collide with rocks,” details Nie.
River To Ocean Wearable Sculpture by Yiyao Nie
River To Ocean Wearable Sculpture by Yiyao Nie
River To Ocean Wearable Sculpture by Yiyao Nie
Vanke Cloud City Complex Building
Apart from it underscoring the Shenzhen skyline, each business type housed in this illuminated high-rise complex is distinctly highlighted according to its respective “architectural characteristics,” says lighting design firm SZ MATT.
Vanke Cloud City Complex Building by SZ MATT Lighting Design Co., Ltd
Vanke Cloud City Complex Building by SZ MATT Lighting Design Co., Ltd
Vanke Cloud City Complex Building by SZ MATT Lighting Design Co., Ltd
Vanke Cloud City Complex Building by SZ MATT Lighting Design Co., Ltd
Translucence Pendant Light
“The goal was ultimately to combine this singular material [hot glass] with the emerging LED cob technology, even though the light source was hidden from view… and experiment with the interplay between two interactive glass surfaces, natural and integral light and ultimately explore a luxury aesthetic… Each individual pendant light can be viewed as a unique bespoke object, each subtly different from the next,” says glassmaker and lighting designer Iestyn Davies.
Translucence Pendant Light by Iestyn Davies
Translucence Pendant Light by Iestyn Davies
Translucence Pendant Light by Iestyn Davies
Translucence Pendant Light by Iestyn Davies
Eco Ocean Eyewear Collection
“We wanted to turn the trend of littering the oceans by showing that plastic waste is a valuable resource to be reused over and over. What better way to do that than to turn it into an everyday object used by many people?” asks Eco Eyewear.
“Eco Ocean optical and sun frames are made from recycled ocean plastic waste, such as old ropes from the maritime industry. The idea behind the collection is to help clean the oceans while showing off plastic waste as a resource that can be used over and over again,” the firm adds. “The collection consists of bold yet easy-to-wear frames. They are lightweight and super comfortable with a smooth, matte finish in ocean-inspired shades. A wave-shaped hinge hints at the story behind the frames without being too outspoken. Each frame comes in a case made from recycled PET fabric.”
Eco Ocean Eyewear Collection by Eco Eyewear
Eco Ocean Eyewear Collection by Eco Eyewear
Eco Ocean Eyewear Collection by Eco Eyewear
Eco Ocean Eyewear Collection by Eco Eyewear
Cat With Fruits Illustrations
“[The] Cat With Fruits series illustration works are for a dried fruit brand,” reveals Rui Deng, a teacher at a film and television college. By having cats interact with fruits in their own playful mannerisms, the artist hopes to capture the products’ natural and pure qualities.
Cat With Fruits Illustrations by Rui Deng
Cat With Fruits Illustrations by Rui Deng
Cat With Fruits Illustrations by Rui Deng
Cat With Fruits Illustrations by Rui Deng
The Rossmore Residential Multi-Unit
“The Rossmore is a full-service high-end apartment building that reimagines the intersectionality between contemporary design and Art Deco charm,” remarks designer Artur Nesterenko.
The Rossmore Residential Multi-Unit by Artur Nesterenko
The Rossmore Residential Multi-Unit by Artur Nesterenko
The Rossmore Residential Multi-Unit by Artur Nesterenko
The Rossmore Residential Multi-Unit by Artur Nesterenko
Grab your chance to have your work recognized by submitting your best projects to the A’ Design Award and Competition.
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