The 1st Asian Products Design Competition highlights the region's outstanding design

The key to staying on top in today's highly competitive market is constantly coming up with unique products that can truly capture buyers' attention. Originality in product design is essential to the success of any new merchandise venture by adding value to the products. Asian toys, gift and houseware manufacturers are moving upmarket by developing their own exquisitely designed and innovative products to meet the ever-changing market taste.

With an aim to promote Asian product designs and encourage enterprises in the Asian region to come up with more innovative concepts and design creativity in product development, Kenfair International Limited organized for the first time the "Asian Products Design Competition" in conjunction with its flagship Hong Kong October Mega Show (13th Hong Kong Int'l Toys & Gifts Show / 12th Asian Gifts Premium & Household Products Show) last October. This design-oriented competition had made a spectacular venue to discern and give recognition to the most innovative and outstanding products from the region's top design talents. The contest received great support and keen participation from a large number of manufacturers of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and the Philippines.

Among the 59 finally qualified entries, a judging panel, formed by reputable industry veterans, design experts and distinguished buyers, selected the best of the bests on the basis of products' innovativeness, user-friendliness, functionality and commercial viability.

For each participating country/ region, there was a "Country Best Award" for its best. And the final best of the bests was selected as the champion among the 5 Country Bests to receive the top honour of the "Buyers' Choice Award".

To arouse the industry's awareness of the great design talents as exemplified by the winning entries of the competition, all the 59 qualified entries were put on display for preview by the visiting buyers at the specially set up "Parade Showcase" corner throughout the above-mentioned Hong Kong October Mega Show (20-23 October, 2004) and its runner-up session Mega Show Part Two held a week later.

Impressed by the outstanding product ideas and vibrant design talents exhibited by the winning entries, all the panel judges and representatives from the supporting parties had expressed acclaim for the high level of design caliber of the contestants. They also extended full endorsements for this first-ever design event as a highly effective initiative to help boost the region's product design talents. Both the organizer Kenfair and the event supporters were expecting for more sparks of great product design from Asia in the coming year.

Winning Products Parade

Buyers' Choice Award Winner Best of Hong Kong 3-D Puzzle Sphere Unima Industrial (HK) Limited

Best of Taiwan Glass Bathroom Amenity Set Shinn Yeou Glass Company Limited

Best of Thailand Clay-made Artificial Orchids in Parawoord Frame Thai Unique Handicraft Co. Ltd.

Best of Philippines Tabletop Decorative potpourri in Bird Cage Design WCL Philippine Export

Best of Korea Bean & Pepper Paste Jars & Stands Ongginara

The Judging Panel
The judging panel is formed by the following industry veterans, design experts and distinguished buyers:

Mr. Thomas Gattermann
Product Manager of Idee + Spiel, Germany