Local design shines in Katha Awards
MANILA, Philippines – The revival of Katha Awards in the 49th April edition of Manila FAME International proves once again the genius of Filipino design in the export market. Katha, in Filipino parlance, means “one’s creation,” and serves as a hallmark of Philippine design excellence. Held on April 16 at One Esplanade in Mall of Asia, it recognized product design and innovation that combine the ideals of form and function. Since its launching in 1983, Katha Awards seek to inspire and challenge exporters as well as designers to constantly innovate and develop designs and products for export.
For a design to be excellent, it should be simple, original and unique. Such qualities were easy to find in the 300 exhibitors participating in the recently concluded Manila FAME; however, to be a judge and choose the cream of the crop from the displayed products and booths must have been a grueling task. As Rajo Laurel, as one of the judges for the Katha Awards, admits, “Being a judge is not easy, as you have to really be fair and think of so many things before actually making a choice.”
Even the nomination in the different categories of the awards was staggering. The judges made rounds and nominated their best picks. Then they deliberated and trimmed down their selections to five nominees per category and chose the final winners. Award categories include best product design in holiday décor, furniture, gifts, houseware, lumina, and fashion accessories, and best booth display. A new category, eco-luxury, recognizes companies and products that observe environmental consciousness through the use of recyclable or sustainable alternative materials in their products and packaging while maintaining aesthetic quality and compliance with the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in production process and waste management. For the Special Citation Awards, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry had a separate set of juries composed of present and former employees from Hardgoods, Softgoods, Exhibition and Design, and Creative Services Divisions. Winners were given a trophy and P2,000 in cash for the award categories and special citation awards.
For the April 2009 Manila FAME showcase, the judges were architect Amado de Jesus, Jr. from the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP); architect Rogelio Caringal, executive director, Exhibits and Convention of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID); Rajo Laurel, fashion designer; Katrina Holigores, editor of Metro magazine; Jean Tatum Ancheta, art director of People Asia magazine and architect Ed Calma from Lor Calma Design Associates, who was also the chairman of the board of judges.
Winners of Best Product Design in the home furnishings category is the Golden Sheik Chair by Maze Manufacturing Company, Inc. The chair exemplifies a fine aesthetic reflecting unique form and function. Judith Manarang, owner and designer of Maze, admits that completing the chair barely a few days before the show “was God’s gift.”
The Best Product Design in the Holiday Décor category went to the holiday wreath from Accent Pieces, which transforms a traditional holiday piece into a beautiful accent piece made of recycled material.
Accent Pieces Exports is considered the pioneer in the crumpling process, which gives handmade paper a softer and textured finish similar to cloth. This durable and flexible paper was first used in 1987 to make Samurai dolls. The overwhelming market response drove the company to vertically develop its product lines. Apart from the highly marketable collectible dolls, it produces Christmas trims and decorative tabletop items as well as visual merchandising products. Accent Pieces is a 1994 Golden Shell Awardee.
In the fashion accessories category, Austolia Shades won best product design. The fashionable eyewear communicates a design aesthetic that is both classic and funky. The cutting-edge eyewear is of graywood, kamagong, mother-of-pearl, jackfruit wood, robles wood with bayong inlay, making it luminous under the sun. Rene Sambajon, general manager of Austolia Jewelry Arts, says he’s looking forward to doing more designs. The eyewear was also a favorite of Rajo Laurel.
Complementary lighting and maximized use of space won for MCCA Industrial Corporation best booth design. Miguel Aguas, president of MCCA, said the way his products of mirrors and wall sculptures were lighted bagged him the award.
In the new category of Eco-Luxury Award, Nature’s Legacy won unique and environmental friendly Marvey Wall Art for its wall décor made out of recycled paper embellished with resin to give it that shiny look. The whole piece can be disassembled and assembled. The wall art is an excellently designed multi-functional piece that uses agro-forest debris and a proprietary water-based binder, a testament of the company’s natural aesthetic and commitment to ecological and sustainable designs. Nature’s Legacy is known for using scrap materials like dead barks, shrubs, fallen twigs, leaves, and others which are recycled to produce hand-crafted products.
In the special citations awards, the best homegrown exhibitor award was given to a local exhibitor with impressive product improvements on quality and workmanship, design, innovativeness and function. Winner was First Binhi Crafts.
Manila FAME International is the longest running trade show in Asia and is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions agency of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry.
