The AYDA Awards 2025-2026 finals and gala, initiated by Nippon Paint, took place on 11/6. This year's theme, "Converge: Building Cultural Heritage", attracted over 9,000 entries from 17 countries, seeking design ideas that offer innovative solutions and contribute to a better world.

During the finals, participants presented their design concepts to a panel of judges. The jury, applying their professional insights and comprehensive evaluation criteria, selected and honored outstanding designs with well-deserved awards.

Representing Vietnam, Le Vo Hong Phuc from Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture and Nguyen Van Quyen from the University of Industrial Fine Arts presented their projects, "Sau rung mo" in the architectural design category and "Dau tay tren Do" in the interior design category, respectively.

Vietnamese representatives at the AYDA Awards in Thailand. Photo: Nippon Paint Vietnam

"Sau rung mo" (After the Dream Forest) is a project focused on repurposing abandoned school sites. It aims to transform disused schools into vibrant community and language learning centers for ethnic minority communities in Dak Glei district, Quang Ngai province.

"Dau tay tren Do" (Fingerprints on Do Paper) proposes a space dedicated to preserving the indigenous culture of the Red Dao people. The project integrates a handmade Do paper production facility with a cultural experience center for visitors, offering creative activities and insights into local life.

These two meaningful projects successfully showcased Vietnam's indigenous cultural values on the international design stage.

Nguyen Van Quyen presents the "Dau tay tren Do" project. Photo: Nippon Paint Vietnam

The Designer of the Year awards were granted to representatives from the Philippines for Architectural Design and from China for Interior Design. Both winning participants received a full scholarship for a three-week immersive design exploration program at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design in Boston, US, valued at 10,000 USD.

Representatives from the organizing committee and participants pose for a photo at the AYDA Awards 2025-2026 ceremony in Thailand. Photo: Nippon Paint Vietnam

Established in 2008, the AYDA Awards aim to cultivate the next generation of architectural and interior design talent globally. Over its 18-year history, involving more than 1,200 higher education institutions across over 20 countries and territories, it has become one of the most recognized design awards worldwide.

In addition to the AYDA Awards, the event also presented the Creative Colour Awards, recognizing designers and property owners for their innovative use of Nippon Paint colors in commercial, residential, and public spaces. By highlighting projects where color serves as the primary design language, this award underscores the significant role of color in architecture, interior design, and the broader paint and coatings industry.

Driven by the desire to encourage and foster the design community, the AYDA Awards and Creative Colour Awards, organized by Nippon Paint, innovate each year. They provide professional experiences and create opportunities for participants to connect with a global network of experts, mentors, and creative individuals who share a common passion.

The Dan

Nippon Paint was established in 1881 in Japan. The corporation operates in 48 countries and territories, ranking as the number one paint brand in Asia-Pacific and among the top 4 globally. Nippon Paint provides Japanese-quality paints and coatings for the architectural, automotive, marine, and various other construction industries.