FORTY-NINE design works were awarded the First Shenzhen Creative Design Award, a citywide design award that aims at introducing local designers to the international design industry. The 49 award-winning works, together with another 205 works, will be exhibited starting today at the Shenzhen Industrial Museum in Futian District. The exhibition will also be held in other cities across the country. Among the 49 award-winning works, two projects, the OCT-LOFT T Street Creative Market and the National Volunteer Network for Ancient Village, won the Special Contribution Award for City of Design and five projects were awarded Shenzhen Creative Awards. Launched by the city’s government, the award is expected to become a major event in the city’s design industry. Aimed at rewarding the city’s outstanding design projects and accomplished designers, it will be held every other year in the city. Seven top designers, including well-known architects, urban planning experts and former UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Francesco Bandarin, were among the judges. Starting last December, the organizing committee received nearly 2,000 design works in only three months, and 254 works entered the final round of selection. According to the organizing committee, the award-winning design works have made significant contributions to the city’s development, either by improving residents’ lives or by upgrading the city’s landscapes. For example, the T Street Creative Market has created a relaxed neighborhood for residents while the landscape project for Futian River has improved the city’s river environment. Detailed introductions to the 49 works will be showcased at the exhibition, and the other 205 works will be displayed on monitors at the museum. There will also be an audience participation section, where visitors can have a chance to “design” their own works with provided facilities. An online version for the exhibition can be found at http://scda.shenzhendesign.org/node_198966.htm.(Wang Yuanyuan) | 