First Stage Judging

The judging panel will consist of design experts of each category and regional editors from around Asia and Hong Kong.

Members of the DFA Award Judging:

• Freeman Lau, Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong | Co-chairman of the Judging Panel
• Amy Chow, Design Director, Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong
• Kelley Cheng, Editorial/Creative Director, The Press Room Publishing Consultancy, Singapore
• Michelle Ong, Co-founder and Creative Director, Carnet, Hong Kong
• Sandy Choi, Sandy Choi Associates Limited, Hong Kong
• Thomas Shao, Chairman and the Editor-in-Chief, Modern Media Group, China
• Angelia Teo, Head of Content, Asia Pacific WGSN, Hong Kong
• Paravi Wongchirachai, Deputy Managing Director, Thailand Creative and Design Centre, Thailand

Grand Award Judging

The prestigious international judging panel will consist of world-renowned professionals and experts from a variety of business, professional, academic and design disciplines with experience both locally and internationally.

Members of the Grand Award Judging:

• Victor Lo, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong | Co-chairman of the Judging Panel
• Freeman Lau, Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong | Co-chairman of the Judging Panel
• Michel de Boer, Creative Director, Studio Dumbar, Netherlands
• Don Ryun Chang, President, International Council of Graphic Design Associations (icograda), Korea
• John Heskett, Chair Professor, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• Kai-yin Lo, Jewelry Designer/ Art & Culture Consultant, Yin Expressions Ltd, Hong Kong
• Mark Dytham, Co-founder, Klein Dytham architecture, Japan
• Renny Ramakers, Co-founder and Director, Droog Design, Netherlands
• Dennis Chan, Founder & Creative Director, Qeelin, Hong Kong

Victor Lo Chung-wing

Victor Lo is Chairman and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong-listed Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited. Lo is currently a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong SAR, Chairman of Board of Directors of Hong Kong Design Centre and Council Chairman of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a member of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. He is also an Honorary President of Federation of Hong Kong Industries and an advisor of its Design Council of Hong Kong. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he also graduated from with a Bachelors degree in product design. Lo received the Industrialist of the Year Award in 2005.

Freeman Lau

Freeman Lau is Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Design Centre. Lau is also the Secretary General of Hong Kong Federation of Design Association and a member of the Design Management Institute’s Advisory Council. A winner of over 300 design awards in overseas and local competitions, Lau is a partner at influential firm Kan & Lau Design Consultants. Apart from a distinguished focus on furniture, notably chair designs, he is a celebrated poster, communications and visual identity designer for an array of clients. Through his work, Lau has played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural identity of Hong Kong.

Dennis Chan

The vision of Mr. Dennis Chan, Creative Director and Co-founder of Qeelin, First Chinese Luxury Jewellery Brand is: To bring the best of China to the world.

Mr. Dennis Chan received his design education from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His scholarship brought him to London, where he started his career as a designer in a local consultancy. He then came back to Hong Kong to join the design consultancy headed by the renowned “Godfather” of product design, Mr. Ken Shimasaki. In 1989, Dennis Chan set up his own company, Long ford, providing professional design consultancy services to international brands and institutions.

Dennis Chan has been invited to work on many international projects. These include designing an elegant wristwatch as the Hong Kong Government Official Souvenir for VIPs at the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony in 1997 or the 33-metre high Millennium Clock Tower, celebrating the new century in 2000. He is a winner of numerous local and international design awards including The Chartered Society of Designers, Japan G Mark, Singapore Design Awards and Maison & Object of Paris.

Michel de Boer

Michel de Boer has been educated at the Academy of Fine-Arts and Higher Technologies in Rotterdam. In 1989 he became Creative Managing Partner at Studio Dumbar. Currently he is fully responsible for the creative output at Studio Dumbar. De Boer worked for many clients around the world on projects that require international implementation in the commercial service sector, for non-profit organisations and the public sector. His portfolio includes prestigious projects such as for Apple Computer, Allianz, Shell, KPN, Dutch Police, Nike, European Central Bank, Danish Post, Randstad, Buick, General Motors China and the Dutch Government.

Kelley Cheng

Kelley Cheng is the Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Architect, and Editorial and Creative Director of Singapore Institute of Architects. Cheng serves as advisory panel for many Singapore government organisations, including the National Art Gallery, Singapore Furniture Industry Council, Singapore Polytechnic and has served as a judge in many international design competitions including the Nagoya Design Do!, Singapore Design Awards, Design for Asia Award, and others.

Michelle Ong

Michelle Ong was born in Hong Kong and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1979 obtaining a BA in Sociology.  Ms. Ong is the co-founder and creative director of the internationally renowned jewellery house, CARNET. 

Carnet opened its own atelier in Hong Kong in 2003 as a showcase for Michelle Ong’s exquisite jewels.  Carnet is known for the perfect fusion of eastern and western influences, brought to life by the finest gems and superb craftsmanship.

Carnet jewels are treasured by an elite international clientele of connoisseurs and collectors.  In July 2005, Carnet was invited to participate in an exhibition at the London Natural History Museum where a selection of Michelle Ong’s outstanding pieces was displayed alongside iconic pieces from the world’s most recognized jewelers.  In October 2006, Carnet held an exhibition at the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, winning great public acclaim and media interest.  Within the year,
Ms Ong has created a variety of intriguing jewels for the motion picture
“The Da Vinci Code”.

In 2007, Ms. Ong opened a Carnet boutique in Bergdorf Goodman in New York.

Amy Chow

Amy Chow graduated from Academy of Art College in San Francisco with a Bachelor degree (BFA) in Sculptural Design and a Master’s degree (MFA) in Graphic Design. She has worked for various international design firms as Typographer and Art Director. Apart from teaching in various academic institutions, Chow was the coordinator of the design-related diplomas, higher diplomas and top-up-degree programmes at HKU SPACE, The Art School Hong Kong Arts Centre and PolyU SPEED respectively. In 2005, Chow joined the Hong Kong Design Centre, where she is currently the Design Director and Educational Consultant overseeing many design workshops, seminars, master classes and exhibitions for design students and professional practitioners.

John Heskett

John Heskett is Chair Professor at the School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Previously, he was Professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, an all-graduate school, where he taught design theory and history. Business applications of design, in particular how design creates economic value in the Pearl River Delta region in China, are his specialties. He is a prolific writer. Heskett’s first book, Industrial Design, was published in 1980 and has been widely used as a basic textbook on design courses in many countries. Other books include: German Design 1870-1918; Philips: A Study in Corporate Design; and most recently, Toothpicks and Logos: Design in Everyday Life. As a noted design expert, Heskett has worked extensively as a consultant to businesses and governments across the world.

Thomas Shao

Thomas Z. Shao is the Chairman and the Editor-in-Chief of Modern Media Group. An innovative publisher, renowned columnist and a recognized arbiter of taste and fashion, he has always been devoted to advancing the domestic publishing industry to meet the highest standards. Shao is the founder and editor of many premier Chinese periodicals, including Modern Weekly, The Outlook Magazine, Life Magazine, City Magazine, Asian Business Leaders, Auto Life, and Lohas. Modern Media Group currently publishes ten magazines and several online media, and is widely regarded as a leader of China's media industry.

In August, 2008, Mr Shao was selected to be one of the torch bearers of the Beijing Olympics and was an invited guest to the open ceremony. In September, he founded Shao Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to cultural production and social engineering. Mr Shao holds EMBA degree from Tsinghua University.

Kai-Yin Lo

Described by the Wall Street Journal as a “Renaissance Woman”, Kai-Yin Lo is a jewelry designer of global renown.  According to Suzy Menkes, the influential fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, Kai-Yin “has bridged the divide between precious and fashion jewelry, elevated semi-precious stones to the mainstay of jewelry design, and ushered in a new direction in the industry.”

Kai-Yin is the recipient of the Hong Kong Design Centre’s prestigious international award, “World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer, 2007”, as well as the Silver Bauhinia Star by the SAR Hong Kong Government, the latter for her endeavours in promoting the creative industries.

Kai-Yin has organized cultural forums and curated art and design exhibitions round the world including the landmark one-man exhibition of Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong at the British Museum (1992); the retrospective exhibition of 20th century Chinese art that toured four major museums round the world (1995-97); “Living Heritage” at the China Institute, New York (2001); and the recent “Jewellery for Life” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (2008-09) – all instilling new cultural and social meaning to well-known topics.

A student of history at Cambridge and London Universities, Kai-Yin also attended Harvard Business School.  She is: a Visiting Professor at the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, Beijing; committee member of the Asia Pacific Art Acquisition, Tate, and board member of the Hong Kong Design Centre. The annual Kai-Yin Lo Lecture at Asia Society, New York, “Asian Arts and Culture – A New Vision” is regarded as a significant platform for cultural exchange.

Kai-Yin has edited four well-regarded books ranging from Chinese white ceramics to furniture to architecture and the vernacular living environment.  Her latest, “House, Home, Family: Living and Being Chinese” has been adopted by over 30 universities in the English-speaking world as text in Asian studies courses.

Sandy Choi

Born in Hong Kong.

After earning his degree in Graphic Design at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London in 1985, Sandy came home and worked with a number of noted design companies including Steiner&Co.

In 1989, Sandy joined Euro RSCG Ball Partnership Hong Kong as an art director and was later promoted to the position of Creative Director.

Sandy moved to Shanghai in 1996 as the Executive Creative Director for J.Walter Thompson. In 1997, after nine years in advertising, Sandy founded his own design consultancy – Sandy Choi Associates Limited.

His work has won local and international accolades including awards from British D&AD, New York Art Directors Club, Cannes festival, Warsaw International Poster Biennale, Le Salon International de l’Affiche Paris, Hong Kong International Poster Triennial, HK4As and HKDA.

Sandy is a member of British D&AD, New York Art Directors Club and Hong Kong Design Association.

Paravi Wongchirachai

Paravi Wongchirachai is a founding team member of Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), a design initiative public organization under the Office of the Prime Minister. As deputy managing director and chief curator of Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) between 2005 to 2009, he produced 20 exhibitions, including Isan Retrospective, Workers with Money Unite!, Presence of the Past – Love, Contradiction and Fashion, Keeping Up – Modern Thai Architecture 1967-1987, Perishable Beauty, and Quick Bites: Design for Better Eating.

In August 2009, Paravi was appointed director of the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI), which oversees the design and development of discovery museums around the country, to serve as a cultural knowledge resource for the Thai creative economy.  Paravi also serves on the judging committee for the Thailand Design Excellence Award 2009 (Demark), and on the Council of the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage.

An avid campaigner for creative culture, Paravi curated the redesign of Kamthieng House Museum, a 19th century Northern Thai heritage house, and co-produced the television cartoon animation series Kaew Jom Kaen (based on the popular children’s book by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn). He has written on contemporary Asian society for The Nation, Art Asia-Pacific, Artlink and Far Eastern Economic Review, with broadcast appearances on BBC Radio, Channel Four UK, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Angelia Teo

Angelia is a very experienced Editor having worked for Harper's Bazaar in Singapore and for Style Magazine as Beauty and Features Editor.
For the last year Angelia has been an Independent Consultant and Editor, writing and editing on a diverse range of subjects from technology to interior design, as well as working on corporate and marketing briefs for major clients including Siemens, AIG and Shiseido.
Angelia's first love is, of course, fashion and she is the brains behind Singapore' s underground shopping event FashBash that specialises in "pre-loved" designer wear and local design upstarts.

Angelia is responsible for WGSN content development in the Asia Pacific region. Along with her Hong Kong based expert team and a network of freelancers Angelia covers all the key fashion trade events and ensures up to date information on retail, trends, business and regional hot spots. In addition she spends time with WGSN's customers updating on topical information to help inform their development plans.

Mark Dytham

Mark Dytham is a director of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa), one of Japan’s most exciting design firms. Born in Britain, Mark studied architecture at the Royal College of Art in London. In 1989 he traveled to with partner Astrid Klein to Tokyo, where they found work with Toyo Ito. Staying on in Japan, the pair established KDa and quickly gained recognition with a series of audacious and award-winning projects. Working freely across design disciplines including architecture, interiors, temporary constructions, furniture, installations and events, KDa’s output reflects the energy and freshness that Mark and Astrid find in Tokyo.

Mark is a frequent guest at international design events, has taught at universities both within and beyond Japan, and in 2000 was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services to British design in Japan. In 2003 Dytham and Klein put together the first Pecha Kucha Night as a one-off event at their bar/gallery/event space, SuperDeluxe in Tokyo. A series of entertaining rapid-fire presentations in which each presenter shows 20 images up each for just 20 seconds, the Pecha Kucha format is now running in over 230 cities globally - and with over 50 events a month there is now are literally PechaKucha Nights happening somewhere in the world everyday.

Renny Ramakers

Renny Ramakers is a respected art critic and the co-founder and director of
Droog, one of the most well known international design companies.

Ramakers has been the curator of national and international design exhibitions and participated in juries, including those for the European Design Prize, Rotterdam Design Prize and Design Plus of the Frankfurt Fair. She has also taken part in governmental advisory boards, amongst others as a member of the Council of Culture.

Since 2000 she has actively lectured and given workshops in the Netherlands and abroad. Together with Gijs Bakker she has been the head of the IM masters course at the Design Academy in Eindhoven.

She has a degree in Art History and Archaeology from the University of Leiden (cum laude). Her final thesis was published as the book, "Tussen kunstnijverheid en industriële vormgeving. De Nederlandsche Bond voor Kunst in Industrie."

Ever since then she has published reviews on design in a great number of international magazines and several books and exhibition catalogues. Ramakers was the design critic for the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, chief editor of the Dutch magazine Industrieel Ontwerpen, and chief editor of Items magazine.

Ramakers has also written many books, such as Less+More, Droog Design in context (2002), Droog Design. Spirit of the Nineties (1998), Simply Droog (2004) and A Human Touch (2006).

Don Ryun Chang

Don Ryun Chang was born to diplomat parents and grew up on five continents - Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa. He was educated at the University of British Columbia in Canada, the Parsons School of Design, and received his MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. Don then worked for several organizations including, Steiner & Co. in Hong Kong, and was Creative Director for the Infinite Group in Korea. In 1991 he founded DC&A which later merged with Interbrand in 1999 and is now the largest branding company in Korea.

Don has received numerous international design awards from prestigious organisations such as the Brno and Warsaw Poster Biennale, and the Type Directors Club. Don lectures widely on branding and is currently the Dean of the Graduate of Advertising at Hongik University in Seoul. He has served as a Vice President of the Visual Information Design Association of Korea (VIDAK) and was the Executive Organizing Director for the 2000 Icograda Millennium Congress in Seoul. In 2007 Don became the 44th President of Icograda, the International Council of Graphic Design Association and is serving a two year term.