Sixty-one outstanding innovative Thai products receive DEmark award

This year, 61 projects from 608 entries received the award, as well as “going international” to Japan with G-mark.
Vannaporn Ketudat, deputy director-general of the department, on Monday described the “Design Excellence Award 2018”, or DEmark 2018, as an award that guaranteed creativity, quality and functionality for design products by Thai designers, and that was considered as one of the Commerce Ministry’s campaigns to drive he creative economy. 
The ITPD has continuously had campaigns to develop and support businesses to add value to their products through innovation and creativity, as well as created platforms for Thai businesses to demonstrate their potential and capabilities to buyers at both the national and international levels, she said.
This year, 608 Thai designers and businesses submitted projects for consideration for DEmark 2018. 
Sixty-one of those projects received the DEmark 2018 award in six categories: furniture, lifestyle, creativity and innovativeness in fashion and accessories, industry, packaging, and graphic design. 
Projects that land a DEmark Award will also be exhibited and have their products launched at the “STYLE” lifestyle exhibition from October 17-21 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
Thailand is very lucky to have a talented new generation who are so creative, and has the capabilities to develop Thai products to international standards, Vannaporn said. 
This is especially important because it is a well-known fact that, in the international market right now, products that have a unique selling point in their design and functions will have a competitive advantage and be able to gain more interest from consumers than an average-looking product, she added.
“The past 11 years of the campaign have demonstrated the advancement of skills and creativity of Thai designers, who have shown their dedication to designing more and more creative products to meet the changing lifestyle of consumers around the world, as well as improving the quality of products to achieve international standards. 
“This award is another supporting platform that allows Thai designers to play a crucial role in driving Thailand forward with creative products and goods, in line with the government policy of ‘Thailand 4.0’”, the deputy director-general explained.
“The campaign has also received strong support from the Japan External Trade Organisation [JETRO] and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, through their experts from the Good Design Award [G-mark] – an internationally recognised award for design – as part of the panel of judges. 
“Their support is also extended to submitting products that have won the DEmark awards to participate in the “Good Design Exhibition” [G-mark] awards, as well. This year, 18 winners will be exhibited at the G-mark exhibition in Tokyo between October 31 and November 4. 
“At the same time, the ITPD continues to cooperate with the private sector, such as Siam Piwat, to increase the avenues for sales and promotion of Thai products that have received the DEmark award, aside from those with other design awards and guarantees. Products will be displayed and sold at Siam Discovery and Icon Siam in the future,” Vannaporn said.