The Office of Innovation Promotion and Value Creation, Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce has launched the Design Excellence Award 2020 - DEmark to promote outstanding design work and elevate Thai products for global recognition under the concept of Circular Design, Cycle of Life. The project is open for applications from designers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and exporters until May 15, 2020.

The Department of International Trade Promotion is preparing to strengthen Thai entrepreneurs to compete in the global market as the world economy recovers from the crisis and returns to normal.

“One of the main policies of the Department of International Trade Promotion is to enhance the competitiveness of Thai entrepreneurs, expand trade channels, and promote value addition to products and services. The Design Excellence Award 2020 - DEmark is a project that the department has continuously organized for 13 years to provide Thai designers with a platform to showcase their work, responding to the policy of adding value to products and services, and promoting Thai entrepreneurs and design work to compete internationally. The selected works over the years have confirmed their success and positive reception both domestically and internationally.

The department has collaborated with the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP), the organizer of the G-Mark award from Japan, inviting experts to serve as judges and supporting products that receive the DEmark award to participate in the G-Mark judging in Japan.

The DEmark award will promote Thai design work by using the DEmark symbol as a certification mark for outstanding design, creating differentiation and adding value to products and services, and elevating well-designed works to be widely recognized in the global market for commercial benefits and pride, serving as a model for the development of product design in the country.

Additionally, Ms. Praornuch Pranuch, Director of the Office of Innovation Promotion and Value Creation for Trade, encouraged and provided additional useful information to applicants.

“The world is changing rapidly, and everyone is aware of the impacts of various problems arising from our actions or from nature, which we cannot control. However, we are part of a system that can help solve or alleviate these problems. Therefore, adopting the concept of Circular Design in design helps make this world a brighter and more livable place.

This year’s Design Excellence Award 2020 is organized under the concept of Circular Design, Cycle of Life because the trend of valuing the world's resources is receiving more attention. The economy is moving towards sustainable development under an economic design that emphasizes the circular use of resources. The key is to understand the design concept that aligns with nature and the environment in a balanced way, whether it is designing to reduce raw material use, reusing waste materials, or creating the most efficient circular production system without waste.

The first step is a key to leading to a Circular Economy for sustainable production and utilization,” Ms. Praornuch explained the rationale behind this year’s project concept.

This year’s DEmark award covers 7 target groups to provide opportunities for designers in each field to fully showcase their ideas for sustainable development, including:
- Furniture Products (Industrial Process / Industrial Craft)
- Lifestyle Products (Gift & Decorative Items / Household Items)
- Creative & Innovative Fashion / Apparel / Jewelry / Textile / etc.
- Industrial and Digital Products (Home Appliances / Equipment and Facilities for Office / Digital Appliances / Equipment / IoT / etc.)
- Packaging Design
- Graphic Design (Font / Graphic on Surface / Digital Media / Identity Design)
- Interior Design related to hotels, restaurants, cafes, retail shops, co-working spaces, and condominium projects.

Award recipients will also receive various benefits, such as:
1. Support to submit their work for the G-Mark award in Japan at no cost.
2. The highest-scoring work in each category that is exported will receive the Prime Minister’s Export Award for Best Design from the Prime Minister.
3. Recipients of the DEmark and G-Mark awards can use the award symbols to promote their products at no cost.
4. Opportunities to showcase their work at international trade shows appropriate for their product categories.

Office of Innovation Promotion and Value Creation, Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce: https://demarkaward.net/th