SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Kookmin University and the Association for Industrial Design hosted the first Design Beyond East & West Award ceremony at the ADI Design Museum on April 21, coinciding with the opening of Milan Design Week, the prominent South Korean university said Tuesday.
The international competition received over 800 entries from 44 countries, focusing on creative design education and outcomes for the future society in the age of artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional design competitions, the Design Beyond East & West (DBEW) Award recognizes both students and their educators for collaborative achievements in fields such as architecture, space design, product design, and visual communication.
The event served as an open forum for students, educators, and experts to discuss the future of the industry. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Jury Chair Paola Antonelli, Stefano Giovannoni, and John Thackara. Lorenzo Imbesi, President of Cumulus, and Emilia Gatto, the Italian Ambassador to South Korea, delivered congratulatory remarks emphasizing international solidarity.
The Gold Prize was awarded to Baoyi Huang and Professor David Buck from the University of Sheffield for their project, "Ecological Samsara – Soundscape Transformation of Parkwood Springs." Silver prizes were awarded to teams from HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Avantika University, and L'École de design Nantes Atlantique.
Andrea Cancellato, Director of the Association for Industrial Design (ADI) Design Museum, noted that the awards grew from a memorandum of understanding signed with Kookmin University last year.
"This award is the only model in the world that honors both the educator and the student simultaneously," Cancellato said, adding: "It is an important milestone for the museum in strengthening ties with Asia."
Paola Antonelli, who chaired the jury, highlighted that the devotion of teachers is often undervalued and that the DBEW Award brings the necessary attention to the noble value of the educators. Fellow juror John Thackara added that after decades in education, he believes that value lies in the dialogue during the process rather than just the finished result.
During a concurrent forum titled "Future-Oriented Redefinition of Design Education," participants discussed the necessity of critical thinking in the AI era. Students at the forum called for curricula that better integrate research with industrial execution and provide a deeper understanding of business mechanisms.
The award program is rooted in the work of the Oriental Culture & Design Center (OCDC) at Kookmin University, established by Director Choi Kyung-ran. The center has spent 20 years researching the essential values of design in Asia, providing the foundation for the current international competition.
"The DBEW Award is a stage that demonstrates the potential of a global education cluster where universities share technology and philosophy to solve common human problems beyond borders," said Chung Seung-ryul, President of Kookmin University. "It will serve as a practical compass and a new role model for design education in the AI era."
The organizers have begun preparations for next year's competition, with schedules for future submissions and forums to be announced on the official DBEW website.
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