The Design Educates Awards, recognizing the best projects that respond to complex social and environmental contexts and carry educational value, have just announced the results of the 2022 edition, with winners selected in four categories (architectural design, product design, universal design, and responsive design). The award-winning solutions include a variety of projects, from innovative installations solving the problem of water shortages in desert areas, to bridges and artisan workshops combining tradition with modern designs. There was also an Emerging Designer label for the best student project and a Solarlux choice award.

The founders and judges were truly moved by how many important and urgent problems the submitted projects responded to. 

The DEAwards 2022 in a nutshell:

- 400 entries from 30 countries

- 43 winners 

- Jury comprising 15 international experts, including Prof. Toyo Itō, Jette Cathrin Hopp, Prof. Winy Maas, Prof. Claudia Pasquero, and more.

A shortened list of the Winners of the 2022 Design Educates Awards

For a complete list of the winners in all different categories, visit www.designeducates.com

Architectural Design

1. Winner of the year in Architectural Design- Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront  - LUO studio 

2. Gold Prize in Architectural Design - Terra Cotta studio - Tropical Space 

3. Silver Prize in Architectural Design - Wiki World Natural Camp - Wiki World

4. Bronze Prize in Architectural Design - House of Dreams - Insitu Project 

Solarlux choice 

1. GO! Campus Zottegem - Rosan Bosch Studio 

Product Design

1. Winner of the year in Product Design - Deployable Emergency Shelter - Henry Glogau Studio

2. Gold Prize in Product Design - Looop -  Cheuk Laam Wong, Central Saint Martins 

3. Silver Prize in Product Design - SeeTang Collection - Jana-Aimée Wiesenberger

4. Bronze Prize in Product Design - Canairi - Canairi 

Responsive Design

1. Winner of the year in Responsive Design - Solar Desalination Skylight - Henry Glogau Studio

2. Gold Prize in Responsive Design - Portable Solar Distiller - Henry Glogau Studio

3. Silver Prize in Responsive Design - Coastalock - ECOncrete Tech Ltd 

4. Bronze Prize in Responsive Design - 1,300 Recycling Pavilion - Hyunjejoo_Baukunst 

Universal Design

1. Winner of the year in Universal Design - BetaPort - Circular Building Technology On-Demand - Urban Beta UG

2. Gold Prize in Universal Design - Coastalock - ECOncrete Tech Ltd 

3. Silver Prize in Universal Design - The Inxect Suit - Pavels Liepins-Hedström

4. Bronze Prize in Universal Design - Voxel Cloud - Julian Edelmann 

Emerging Designer

1. Solar Desalination Skylight - Henry Glogau Studio

Categories and Jury

Each year, the esteemed judges select the most outstanding ideas and implementations in architectural design, product design, universal design, and responsive design. The 2022 edition jury was joined by Prof. Toyo Itō, Jette Cathrin Hopp, Prof. Winy Maas, Jakob Lange, Prof. Claudia Pasquero, Prof. Mark L. Gardner, Prof. Masayo Ave, Maria Aiolova, Julie Payette, Senior Professor Ranjana Dani, Professor Alan Pert, David Basulto, Doris Kim Sung, Dr. Peter Kuczia, Aidin Ardjomandi. In addition to the general evaluation, the student project with the highest score was awarded the label of Emerging Designer. Parallel to the Jury's evaluation, representatives of Solarlux will select the laureates of Solarlux Choice.

Criteria

Entries were evaluated based on the following criteria: overall idea and implementation, the potential for educational influence, effectiveness and quality of the informative layer, aesthetics, quality of presentation, visionary approach, originality, feasibility, and comprehensiveness. In addition, submissions had to reflect to the awards’ theme and highlight the educational potential of design.

What is the design that educates?

Design that educates is a vast concept. Art, and therefore also architecture and design, do not always convey messages written in black and white. Often, their educational role is subtle, but never meaningless. Educational projects are supposed to respond to social and environmental problems and bring us closer to sustainability. 

The "Design Educates Awards" recognizes works that can change our behavior - and thus the world - even if this change is quiet and gradual.

The founders of the idea of the community of creators who educate, and the awards that distinguish them, do not set any rigid framework or barriers. In the submitted projects, they want to see additional values with long-term effects that take the growing complexity of our lives into account. It's not just beautiful, aesthetically, and technically pleasing designs that matter here. What matters is the impact of the buildings, objects, or items on their users and the environment.