Design Intelligence Awards 2020.
Build your brand and grow your business in China
The Design Intelligence Award Programme explained for UK Applicants
John Mathers, Chair of DIA UK Judges
Calling UK entrepreneurs, innovators and designers — enter the Design Intelligence Awards 2020 by July 6th for an opportunity to win Gold Awards worth £115,000. To enter visit: https://en.di-award.org/
What is the DIA Programme about, why should I be interested and how do I apply?
The Design Intelligence Awards (DIA) is an exceptional opportunity for UK entrepreneurs and designers to build their reputation and market share. Hosted by the renowned China Academy of Art, in Hangzhou — famous for its West Lake and also the birthplace of Alibaba — the DIA recognises the innovative design of world leading products and services and outstanding designers and studios. Now in its fifth year, DIA has become one the worlds’ most prestigious and popular awards programmes attracting diverse applicants from 56 countries.
It’s also one the most generous awards programmes awarding a total prize purse of 5 million yuan (about £560,000) and with two Gold prizes of one million yuan each … that’s a whopping £115,000 each.
Why should you be interested?
Well, there are a number of reasons.
Firstly, British design and innovation is treated with huge respect in China, and last year Hero Arm, by Open Bionics, one of only four British entries, scooped one of the Gold Awards. Open Bionics design and develop affordable, assistive devices that enhance the human body. They started with Hero Arm, a stylish multi-grip bionic hand and are on a mission to make beautiful bionic limbs more accessible.
Secondly, you’ll get access to Chinese and Global decision makers, investors and commissioners. The DIA experts group of judges and influencers include over 500 design directors, leaders and academics selected from a diverse mix of design-led organisations from 49 countries. The 2020 UK judges include design industry leaders Clive Grinyer — Head of Service Design RCA, Paul Priestman — Chairman of PriestmanGoode, Mat Hunter — Co-CEO Plus X Accelerators, Rama Gheerawo — Director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre and Ben Griffin — Innovation Lead — Design at Innovate UK and Julian Grice — UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge design advisor.
Thirdly, DIA is an innovation hallmark recognised in Asian markets and exposure is increased through a substantial media and marketing campaign that drives awareness across Asia.
And finally — but by no means least — entry is completely free. A very simple form that should take no more than an hour to complete.
How are DIA judged and what are the criteria?
All the UK entries will be judged by the British judges in two Evaluation phases during July and August. This is followed by a final virtual judging session in China in September and the awards are announced on October 20th, so you don’t have to wait long to hear if you’re a winner.
How do I enter?
The application couldn’t be simpler.
To enter visit: https://en.di-award.org/
1. simply click on the person icon on the right menu
2. click the register button under the account information to set up an account 3. then ADD your entry information
To find out the information you’ll need to complete your entry check out the applicant registration instructions and Q&A here
Entry Groups and Categories
The DIA awards base their awards on unusual categories and the website can be a bit difficult to follow so I’ve simplified the category descriptions below:
Groups.
Firstly, there are two separate awards sections or Groups; Products and Concepts. Both groups are open to individuals, enterprises, universities/colleges and institutions.
1. Products Group — these are products or services that have been launched within the previous two years or, if not yet on the market, there is a fully functioning prototype available for viewing. There are four categories to choose from described below.
2. Concepts Group — these are innovative design proposals for products and services that
have not yet been launched and need to be capable of being developed or manufactured and brought to market. The four categories are the same as Products and there is an annual theme described below.
Categories.
In both the Products and Concepts Group there are four categories. These are more open and diverse than many traditional industry competitions. All kinds of design innovation are welcomed — from products, services, digital solutions, soft-ware to experiences. The four categories are:
1. Cultural Innovation — recognising and emphasising culture as the internal driving force behind the idea we look at the contemporary revival of traditional culture, the design crafting of the idea and the value created both in cultural IP and in societal terms. This category is open to products and services from the fields of packaging, fashion, furniture and lighting, tableware, stationery, souvenirs and social innovation.
2. Living Wisdom — recognising the way we live as a driving force behind the idea we look at the wisdom they bring to daily life, intelligent approaches to everyday appliances and how they care for vulnerable groups in society. This category is open to products and services from the fields of household appliances, kitchen and bathroom, elderly care, mother and baby, toys and musical instruments, sports and leisure etc.
3. Industrial Equipment — recognising production as a driving force for the idea we look at how equipment has been upgraded or transformed, how strategic new industries are emerging and how production systems are optimised for maximum efficiency. This category is open to products and services from the fields of transportation, medical, construction, agriculture and forestry, military, office, tools etc.
4. The Digital Economy — recognising digital as the driving force behind the idea we look at how digital is changing the way we live our lives, how the service industry is changing and how traditional industries such as manufacturing and agriculture are being upgraded. This category is open to digital products and services from the fields of smart cities, smart business, smart medical care, smart education, smart community, AI, industrial internet and block chain technology.
Concept Group.
The four entry categories for Concept Group are the same as those for the Product Group and in addition there is a different theme each year. This year, the theme is ‘The design challenge post Covid-19’ where we are looking for ‘transformational design’ that makes a really innovative difference for the future. Designing for the world, creating the future.
What exactly are the Awards for?
There are Awards for the winners in both the Product and Concept Groups.
In the Product Group two Gold Awards are given, each for 1,000,000 RMB, eight Silver Awards, each for 200,000 RMB and 10 Bronze Awards, each for 100,000 RMB
In the Concept Group two Future Talent Awards are given, each for 80,000 RMB and eight Young Talent Awards, each for 30,000 RMB
In addition there will be around 300 ‘Honourable Mention Awards’, from across both Groups. A ‘Best Organisation Award’ will commend those organisations which have made outstanding contributions to the Awards collection and promotion process.
Previous winners — https://en.di-award.org/collections.html
Here you can view some of the best examples of DIA winners from previous years. It’s a great opportunity to review some of the best examples of design from around the world as well as exploring opportunities for co-operation between designers, manufacturers and sellers.
So, why are you waiting?
You can complete the entry form online and it will go straight to the DIA team who will forward it tome. And if you’d like more information, help or guidance don’t hesitate to get in touch contact with myself or Co-Chair of UK Judges, Julian Grice on:
john@britishdesignfund.co.uk julianmpgrice@gmail.com
Best of luck. John Mathers.
