Airtel Kenya, UP magazine partner to launch ‘Design Thinking’ awards

The award looks to reward key change ­makers in Kenyan society who use solution based thinking to overcome challenges and succeed. Popularly known as ‘Design Thinking’, the award looks to reward innovative elements in Kenyan society.

The event features 3 different event phases; call for entries which launched in February 2015 at the DXD event on the 19th of Feb 2015; shortlist announce­ment in October 2015, and the awards event gala in Novem­ber 2015.

“We are delighted to celebrate the creativity, power and influence of many young Kenyans whose unique skills and expertise have helped to positively impact our society. This award, therefore creates a unique platform to recognize and reward them, giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills which will help make positive and sustainable change beyond the Kenyan borders,” said Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi.

There are nine award categories, in seven groups, with several sub-categories under each main category:

Architecture Design (Cover­ing the built environment), Communications Design (covering branding, packag­ing, typography, digital design, illustration, among others), fashion Design (covering fabric, original design and finished product), interior Design (covering physical interior spaces and interior accessories such as furniture), interactive Design (covering web design, gaming, mobile interfaces), tech Design (covering human-based application and software solutions), product Design (covering useful human based designs that improve life) and green Design (Covering de­signs that improve or enhance environment).

Beyond category winners, there are also special distinc­tions: Best of Show, Jury Prize, People’s Choice Design Award, Lifetime Achievement and The Airtel Disruptor of the Year—this award centres on design concepts, ideas and visions.

The competition focuses on a young, up-and-coming creative talent. Other categories may be added or subtracted based on sponsor involvement.

The selection criteria for all of the awards are excellence, innovation, and enhancement of the quality of life. Individual candidates must be citizens or long-term residents of Kenya and have been practicing de­sign for at least three years. Corporations and institutions must have their headquar­ters in Kenya.

Honorees are selected for a body of realized work, not for any one specific project.

Candidates are proposed by an Official Nominating Committee and are invited to submit materials for a jury’s review. After the February launch event, submission will be welcome here.

The DXD committee will oversee the events and submission process and the Grand Jury will conduct the voting exercises following the final submission dates. Submissions and entries, nominations and winners will be picked be­fore the scheduled gala night event date in November 2015. Submissions will be due and vetted prior to this date.