SATURATE the world with color and design, and we can make the world a better place—but be sure to take note that some paints are brighter and some designs are bolder than others. This seemed to be the guiding principle behind the Nippon Paint Young Designer Award, which selected as its theme the phrase “Design With Heart” for this year’s iteration.
The Nippon Paint Young Designer Award is a platform and an opportunity for architecture and interior design students to think beyond the contemporary and the commonplace. First launched in 2008, the award’s aim is to inspire students to be more innovative and to motivate them to a higher degree of professionalism. “It is where young interior designers and architects alike can break through the limits and confines of conservative and acceptable thinking, and deliver ideas and environments that everyone will enjoy, cherish and thrive in,” according to a Nippon Paint statement.
Indeed, improving architectural and interior design functionality, enhancing lifestyle experiences and transforming ordinary lives to become most awesome was the core ethos of “Design With Heart,” as seen from the selection of winners, who were culled from the lot of third- and fourth-year interior design and architecture students. If we go by the winning designs available for perusement at www.youngdesigneraward.ph, we can see that this year’s winners have risen to the challenge of creating environments that will benefit people from all walks of life, including the elderly, the young, nursing mothers and the disabled, among others.
As per the project briefs, which are guidelines to the competition, interior designers were encouraged to share their vision of an ideal work space that promotes work-life balance by being engaging and innovative, as well as eco-sustainable. Architects were tasked with creating an ideal community-interactive space that could provide a wholesome environment to nurture family and community relationships, advocate good values and inspire people to think creatively.
With that said, here are the winners of the Nippon Paint Young Designers Awards 2015: For the interior design category, the gold winner and recipient of the Best Green Innovation Award is Martha Joyce Tomas of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for “Biojet,” followed by silver awardee Courtney Gatus of the University of the Philippines (UP) for “Project Eversmile.” Best Supporting College or University is UST, while best color choice once again goes to the aforementioned Gatus of UP for her project.
Meanwhile, for the architecture category, the gold winner is Jose Augustine Ricarte of UST for “Marikina Link,” followed by silver winner Marko Alab Adviento, also of UST, for “Sibol: Interactive Community Park.” Again, Best Supporting College or University is UST. Also marvelous are the works of Best Color Choice Award winner Ruben Felizarte of Far Eastern University for “Conart Park” and Best Green Innovation winner Kae Ann Aguila of UST for “UrbaNature.”
This winning list was selected from a broad set of finalists, which included a hefty number of students from UP, UST, University of San Carlos, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, among others.
Commented Michael Chung, general manager of Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines: “With the official launch of the Nippon Paint Young Designers Awards in the Philippines [years ago], we have noticed how Filipino designers have this genuine passion in creating spaces which are people-oriented and environment-friendly. We are very sanguine [in the thought] that this year’s [winners] can maximize their innate talent to step up and compete with [the rest of the world].”
That should truly be an award in itself, but what was also tantalizing for the young contestants were the prizes. Each of the gold awardees were given P50,000 in cash, aside from a six-month internship at Lor Calma & Partners (for interior design) and Casas Architects (for architecture). This comes on top of an all-expense-paid overseas trip for a once-in-a lifetime learning program that includes an exclusive workshop crafted especially for learners, featuring internationally renowned speakers in the fields of architecture and interior design. As of press time, the name of the program or the overseas destination has not yet been announced.
But here are more prizes. The winner’s professor or adviser also received bounty in the form of P10,000 in cash, while each academic institution received P10,000 in cash, aside from a gift voucher of paint worth P10,000.
These amounts may be small for some, but most compelling is the opportunity to work at an internship at some of the best design firms in the country. Such a stepping stone can lead to other golden opportunities. That said, perhaps more students can be encouraged to join the competition next year.
For more information on how to compete for the next round, point your browser to www.youngdesigneraward.ph.