Aside from aesthetically and technically pleasing designs, Design Educates Awards (DEAwards) seeks designs with educational value. DEA looks for designs that will have a lasting influence on society beyond the ever-present effects of design and architecture.
About
The DEAwards recognize, showcase, and promote the best projects in architecture and design that provide an informative and educational layer that guides us through the increasing complexity of our environment. Such a layer can highlight specific possibilities and challenges, explain sociocultural factors and influences, or even outline new scenarios for future development. Each year, the esteemed panel of judges selects outstanding ideas and implementations in architectural design, product design, universal design, and responsive design.
Theme
The theme of the awards is inspired by the research titled “Educating Buildings” (“Bildende Bauten”) by Dr. Peter Kuczia. Visual arts and, even more obviously, language have long been accepted as forms of expression with social and even political impacts. But design and architecture, although generally quieter disciplines, can also communicate and speak to us.
Ceremony
The awards ceremony will take place during the Architecture in Foyer 2023 conference at the Solarlux Campus in Germany (Melle, Lower Saxony, Germany) from 22-23 September 2023.
Registration opens in June 2022
Project submission deadline: 2 February 2023
Jury deliberation: February 2023
Announcement of winners: March 2023
Awards ceremony: Autumn of 2023
UTC time zone for all dates.
Criteria of evaluation
The winners, laureates of prizes, honourable mentions, and nominations will be selected in each category: Product design, Architectural design, Universal design and Responsive design.
Participants may submit multiple projects. There is no limit on the number of participants per team. Individual entries are allowed. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Overall idea and implementation
- The potential for educational influence
- Effectiveness and quality of the informative layer
- Aesthetics
- Quality of presentation
- Visionary approach
- Originality
- Feasibility
Categories
(1) Product Design
Products of all scales and types are welcome: e.g., industrial products, household goods, and tools.
(2) Architectural Design
Buildings, landscaping, and small forms that bring change to their surroundings.
(3) Responsive Design
A building, object, or product that is capable of reacting to conditions in a given environment, recognizing a problem, and finding a solution by interacting with its surroundings and users.
(4) Universal Design
Designs that may not be strictly in architecture or product design or are interdisciplinary or difficult to categorise into other categories.
In addition to the general evaluation, the student project with the highest score will be awarded the label of Emerging Designers. Parallel to the Jury’s evaluation, representatives of Solarlux will select the laureates of Solarlux Choice.
Eligibility & Registration
The DEAwards are open to everyone. Please visit here to register.
Visit the official website of the awards at the official website.
Contact the organizer at the official email address.
