Studies have shown that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change. The whole archipelago is susceptible to flooding, El Niño phenomena, and other natural disasters that can directly impact livelihood, agriculture, and even people's safety. This is one of the most pressing issues that the country and its people face today.

With this in mind, Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines Inc., through its Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA), is constantly searching for the country's brightest and most creative interior designers and architects. AYDA is a student competition that aims to inspire students to develop their skills and challenge them to create designs that will help solve societal issues and challenges.

This contest is divided into the architectural and interior design categories. Interior designer Wilmer Lopez is named this year’s head judge for the interior design category. Meanwhile, architect Eduardo Casares will head the architecture category.

“What we are looking now is really who make their thoughts, their ideas really aligned to the foundation of our country,” Wilmer tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle in an interview during the launch of this year’s competition held last Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at Seda Vertis, Diliman, Quezon City. “We have to be more empathetic, open our hearts, and listen to what’s happening around from the simple flood or to the things happening in every region. We have to be really mindful of what they will create. Is their design a solution for the needs of a specific community? I believe that design is one solution when it comes to helping a community.”

While looking for solutions to local issues, AYDA aims to encourage students to do it with international design and standard designs in mind. After all, winners of the local leg will compete in the Asian leg, battling against 13 other countries in Asia.

“We wanted to make the student feel that this is an international competition,” Eduardo says. “Kasi local wise, I think we’re okay. But taking it to international level, medyo malayo tayo (we are a bit behind) when you see the outputs of the different countries.”

The panel of judges believes that there are many reasons why Filipino students are having a hard time competing with the works of other countries. Some of these are the school curriculum, time to prepare for the competition, the lack of new technology usage, and the technical know-how to maximize the use of these innovations. That is why these professionals offer their time, knowledge, and skills to train and impart learning to young designers.

But when it comes to the use of technology, judges are clear to students not to use artificial intelligence (AI) for coming up with design ideas. Originality is a vital part of the competition's criteria.

“As professionals, we have to know how to harness the power of AI for the good and that is something that we are going to emphasize in this competition,” architect Cathy Saldaña says. Cathy is a member of a panel of judges. “When an AI thinks, what is their output? So you become challenged as a human being to understand how I will manipulate technology so the technology won’t manipulate you. Creativity is a very complex world. There’s this aspect that you must hold on so you will not give power to technology.”

Now in its 15th year, this year’s AYDA Awards carries the theme "Converge: Championing Purposeful Design.” The design competition is open to all interior design students in their second year and above and architecture students in their third year and above. 

Upon the time of submission, participants must have been enrolled in interior design, architecture and/or other relevant courses at an educational institution. They must also have less than a year of professional working experience. In the Philippines, the deadline for submission of entries is on Jan. 31, 2024. Each student is allowed to submit only one entry.