By Park Min-young
Team D.A.S. from Yonsei University which introduced an innovative classroom design to change the world won the Herald Award, the first place prize, at the Korea Herald iDEA PT Tournament held on Wednesday at Hotel Shilla in central Seoul.
The competition was stiff as eight teams, each consisting of two to four university students, presented whimsical design ideas in various genres. The event was part of the iDEA Herald Design Forum 2011 which kicked off its two-day run Wednesday. All presentations were conducted in English.
D.A.S., short for Dream and Soul, suggested “The Hive,” a hexagon-shaped classroom furnished with multipurpose blocks instead of traditional desks and chairs, as something that could change education and eventually the world.
The multipurpose blocks can be pushed up from the floor to be used as chairs, desks or storage spaces, explained the team, and flexibly turn the space into a traditional classroom, a caf, or even into a square when all blocks are pushed down. Smart glass walls that provide two modes ― transparent mode which shows the outside and translucent mode which turns itself into a massive white board ― add to the innovative ambience.
“Design is no longer an object but a subject that changes the way you think and live,” said Whang Jun-sik, a member of D.A.S. who gave the presentation.
The second prize, iDEA Award, was given to team Unitheco, a shortened name for “You and I think eco.” The team introduced uniquely designed everyday products like toilet tissue distributers and electricity switches that can remind users that they are consuming part of nature, or a reusable “rip-up cup” whose top part stained with lipstick can be ripped off after each use. It also presented an impressive video clip containing short interviews of university students to show the general perception of the environment among young people.
The team Passionist, which emphasized that products should be designed for humanity, took home the BMW prize. The team introduced simple but effective and eco-friendly designs such as Q-drum, a water transporting system; and Lifestraw, a water purifying system, that could especially help improve lives in developing countries.
Team Little Friends, who introduced how designs and designers can change the world by contributing to society giving the example of the popular shoe brand Toms, won the Nexon award.
Three judges ― Chon Shi-yong, managing editor of The Korea Herald; Yoo Chang-jo, President of the Korean Society of Consumer Studies; and Lee Hyung-ho, professor at Hongik University’s College of Architecture ― decided on the winners after a thorough evaluation on the content of the presentation, presentation skills and English speaking abilities.
“All teams did a great job of bringing new insights and ideas. The people here are definitely ones that will become the next generation opinion leaders,” said Yoo Byung-chang, Herald Media CEO and Publisher.
The Herald Award winner took home prize money of 3 million won and a Mac Book Air; the iDEA Award winner prize money of 2 million won; the BMW winner prize money of 1 million won; and NEXON Award winner an iPad 2.
(claire@heraldcorp.com)