Organiser’s Message
This is the year of transformative change in more ways than one. Singapore Design Awards has been honouring outstanding designers, design students and design practices from across the world and it remains the leading design award in Southeast Asia. To foster a more inclusive creative industry and supportive ecosystem for designers, the 32nd edition of the awards will introduce new changes this year.
The awards will do away with specific entry categories which separate students, professionals and corporates, and instead accept submissions from any creative persons who use design as their primary problem-solving tool. It will be one that is relevant to the current challenges that Singapore faces and we are very honoured to be working closely with the government agency - National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
The award evaluation criteria will place greater emphasis on solutions which demonstrate empathy, impact, and creativity, stirring up interest and adding tangible value to the end-user experience. These changes are in line with our manifesto of achieving better business by design, and to use design for social good. It also enables us to impart to different communities that social cohesion can be achieved through intentional co-design.
Designers have a raw skill set that’s very valuable in the future, in that we offer much impact on a product or company through our creativity and innovative thinking. I welcome you to support this exciting revamped initiative and look forward to receiving your submissions!
About the Awards
The Singapore Design Awards honours outstanding designers, design students and design practices for their innovative design and human-centric approach. It aims to raise awareness for the region and the strategic role of designers with Singapore at the heart of a dynamic Southeast Asia.
First conceived in 1988 and unveiled by then Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the first Singapore International Design Forum, it was an initiative led by the Designers Association Singapore (now Design Business Chamber Singapore) and the Trade Development Board (now IE Singapore).
As an award that has always been dedicated to celebrating design, Singapore Design Awards is committed to acknowledge and affirm the people behind the scenes – the ones leading the charge and a new blood of innovators in the right step forward. This year, we’ve changed the game to acknowledge the evolution of a designer’s role. Though designers are natural problem solvers, they cannot tackle all the issues alone.
In partnership with the National Council of Social Service, the awards will continue to address the current challenges that Singapore is facing, serving as a launchpad for designers to transform them into opportunities for innovative design solutions.
Design Challenge
Youths form a vital part of our social fabric and are the future of the nation. They possess a wealth of opportunities and strengths, contributing to the vibrancy of our society. However, some face challenging circumstances, such as socioeconomic disadvantages, family instability, school disengagement or mental health conditions. The challenges faced by our youths today are unique and multifaceted. While there are programmes and initiatives that have nurtured and benefited many youths, some may not have been able to access such opportunities. These youths often may require support across multiple areas to effectively navigate their circumstances, overcome their challenges and realise their potential.
Our goal is to empower these youths to reach their full potential through three key areas.
- Achieve Enabling youths to excel in their tasks, be it academics, personal projects, or career goals.
- Connect Fostering meaningful connections with peers, mentors, and the community.
- Thrive Supporting their overall well-being and personal growth to become resilient and well-rounded individuals.
Challenge Journey
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions from any creative persons (students or professionals) who use design as the primary problem-solving tool are accepted.
- Individual, Corporate or Group submissions are welcomed.
- Participants may form a conglomeration or consortium comprising designers/specialists, to facilitate/realise the proposals.
- Ideas must address the challenge statement.
- Ideas must be original and not infringe on any copyrights or trademark.
- Ideas must be presented up to the prototype phase.
- Ideas must be actionable and centred on tangible results.
- Ideas must fall within the funding scope, and therefore be implementable in 6 to 12 months.
Evaluation Criteria
- Empathy Demonstrating the ability to understand and identify users needs. Solving problems and improving lives in specific ways that relieve the challenges of the users.
- Inspiration Possessing a stroke of ingenuity. Stirring up enthusiasm and interest in users; setting the standard in the industry and/or encouraging action from its users; taking into account our local context.
- Impact Benefitting users in specific ways that are significant to them. Enhancing or adding tangible and meaningful value to their current situation/ experience.
- Business Viability & Sustainability Has the potential to hit the market within 6 months to a year, scale up and create long-term value by bringing about positive impact in the ecological, social and economic environment.
- Systems thinking How the project works in tandem with the rest of the mechanisms in the ecosystem; how we coordinate with other efforts.
Seed Money
Promising projects will be selected for funding, project development and rapid prototyping.
Successful applicants will be supported from a cash pool of S$50,000 to develop the concept.
For any enquiries, please contact us at:
info@singaporedesignawards.com
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