Over 400 entries for the Design Excellence Award by the Royal Thai Government

Established in 2008, the annual Design Excellence Award (DEmark) gives recognition to outstanding product designs amongst Thai creatives across the country.

Since 2008, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government give out the Design Excellence Award (DEmark) as an acknowledgment and recognition of outstanding products by Thai designers across the country. The DEmark award is given conjointly with the Prime Minister’s Export Award (PM Export Award), both presented annually by the Prime Minister with the support of the Thailand Office of Innovation and Value Creation. 

Seeking to increase the presence of Thailand’s creative products in the international market, the Design Excellence Award not only grants recognition but also gives winners the DEmark logo for outstanding design which encourages product development and innovation amongst Thai entrepreneurs, supporting the creation of a better quality of life for both domestic and international consumers.

Starting with 171 submissions at its beginning and with a 12-year trajectory, DEmark has been showing an annual growth rate of 30% in its entries, and alongside this year’s theme of “Circular Design, Cycle of Life”, DEmark succeeded its expectations and reached 496 successful submissions with 425 qualified entries.

Every year, DEmark awards a variety of Thai products for their design stories, creativity, aesthetics, usability, safety, and environmental sustainability. This year’s design categories are: 

• Furniture
• Lifestyle Products
• Creative & Innovative
• Industrial & Digital Appliances
• Packaging Design
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design

The DEmark Award not only celebrates Thai designers’ achievements but also gives winners the opportunity to enter the second round of the Good Design Award (G-mark) in Japan, to which they are automatically qualified for, with no admission fee. Furthermore, winners will be featured on the DEmark official website and Facebook page, use the DEmark logo to promote their designs, participate in the virtual exhibition, and have the opportunity to participate in world-renowned international exhibitions and tradeshows at special rates. 

Defined by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, the DEmark Award criteria follows five main categories: Design Story, Innovation, Aesthetics, User impacts, and Social & Environmental impacts. The jury, which includes representatives from public and private sectors as well as media representatives, evaluates everything from the design concept, market strategy, cultural heritage values, novelty, future impact, safety, and sustainability of the designs. 

To showcase the exceptional design and quality of the Design Excellence Award’s entries, we present you a selection of past years editions winning products:

Qualy – Oasis Round Pot & Hill Pot

Minimal to the eyes, this self-watering plant pot was carefully designed to perfectly blend its water reservoir to the shape itself. The two available heights give users the freedom to arrange plants to their liking while ensuring that their plants will be watered throughout the week.

If you want to know more about self-watering pots, don’t miss PICO: A garden in your palm.

Corner 43 Décor – Petite Collection

The stool collection designed by Salt and Pepper Design Studio presents a stylish combination of traditional rattan texture, as the seating surface, with smooth wooden curves running on the sides. The tubular ornaments and their color combinations integrate the old-fashioned rattan structure into modern furniture pieces, a synthesis of heritage and novelty.

Galvanii – Aunglo stool set

Inspired by the Asian street food culture, the Aunglo stool showcases a simplified design and a light structure consisting of individual struts. The overall design makes this stool feathery, airy, and perfectly suitable for the ‘eat and go’ street food culture.

Harnn – VUUDH Aromatic Diffuser Star Fruit  

This aromatic diffuser takes the inspiration from the star fruit both in form and function. Its organic design not only allows for an effective scent diffusion through the proportionally correct escape hole but it also holds the reeds beautifully to create an elegant and delicate composition.

Siam Type – ZT December

East meets West in this modern Thai font design. Taking inspiration from the serifs usually found in Roman characters, the ZT December typeface gives the Thai alphabet a modern twist by creating a contemporary design that broadens the use of the Thai alphabet in the graphic design field.

VRH – Kuche

The design of the Kuche kitchen faucet takes inspiration from the simplicity of tubular structures to create a visually weightless product. The refined design of Kuche showcases elegant proportions that allow for an optimal experience and blend seamlessly with any surroundings without creating a visual or physical disturbance. 

Hygge – Beam chair

Highlighting their woodworking experience, Hygge designed the Beam Chair creating a beautiful, elegant, and solid product. The experienced factory adapted woodworking techniques and bending processes in the production of the chair, hence creating a different kind of woodworking approach. The Beam Chair is the result of natural material, incredible techniques, and a beautiful and ergonomic design.

Yothaka – Wit Tray

Yothaka’s Wit Tray is the epitome of beautiful craftsmanship and Thai design. The food tray features recycled steel and bamboo as the main materials, and its simple and airy aesthetic not only showcases a beautiful contrast of textures but highlights the designer’s incredible artistry.

Curious to know innovative products that use bamboo as their main material? Don’t miss Everloop Toothbrush – Beneficial for both the environment and your oral health.