
Design with Compassion: The Design Award Philippines Winners for 2022
“Malasakit” or compassion is a value ingrained in Filipino culture. We, as Filipinos, have an innate sense of caring for and acting on the needs of others. Practicing malasakit allows communities to prosper even in times of crisis, people get to solve problems, and everyone finds opportunities to improve their way of life.
What makes the Good Design Award Philippines different from other Good Design Awards is its emphasis on this particular Filipino value. Launched in 2019 by the Design Center of the Philippines, the national design excellence recognition program believes that malasakit must be the heart and soul of a good design.

On June 14, 2022, the Good Design Awards Philippines announced the Good Design Award Philippines winners for 2022 during the Awarding Ceremony held at the Ayala Museum in Makati City. The organization recognized objects, images, places, and systems that exhibit the principles of good design: innovativeness, form, and function, together with the Filipino value of malasakit.
Several notable people attended the event, including Undersecretary Ireneo V. Vizmonte, Management Services Group and Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Ph.D., Competitiveness and Innovation Group, Department of Trade and Industry; and media representatives.

Red Award Winners
The Red Award recipients showcased good design with innovation and function in mind. These ideas have garnered at least 90 points. The winners include:
IMAGE MAKING
Entry Name: BOYSEN THIS IS A TREE
Company Name: TBWA\SANTIAGO MANGADA PUNO ADVERTISING, INC


Entry Name: CCP BAYBAYAN
Company Name: TBWA\SANTIAGO MANGADA PUNO ADVERTISING, INC


Entry Name: TUBBATAHA CORAL RIP
Company Name: TBWA\SANTIAGO MANGADA PUNO ADVERTISING, INC


Entry Name: MACHO CHOIR
Company Name: DDB TRIBAL WORLDWIDE PHILIPPINES


PLACE MAKING
Entry Name: MUSEO NI JESSE ROBREDO
Company Name: GPAD STUDIO


Entry Name: STREETLIGHT TAGPURO
Company Name: LEANDRO V. LOCSIN PARTNERS


SYSTEMS/SERVICE DESIGN
Entry Name: MECHANICAL WATER KIOSK
Company Name: ALTERNATIVE INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC.


Gold Award Winners
The Gold Award recipients have exemplified the best application in each design category. The winners include:
OBJECT MAKING
Entry Name: NATA DE COCO WOUND DRESSING
Company Name: PATCHMED COSMETIC TRADING


IMAGE MAKING
Entry Name: TUMINDIG
Company Name: KOMIKET INC.


PLACE MAKING
Entry Name: MLR POLO PAVILION
Company Name: SANGAY ARCHITECTS


SYSTEMS/SERVICE DESIGN
Entry Name: SAKAY.PH
Company Name: SAKAY MOBILITY PHILIPPINES, CORP.


Green Award Winners
The Green Award is a special award given to outstanding entries that address UN SDGs related to the environment and sustainability. The winner of this award is:
OBJECT MAKING
Entry Name: NATA DE COCO WOUND DRESSING
Company Name: PATCHEMED COSMETIC TRADING

Malasakit Award Winner
The Malasakit Award is the highest form of recognition. This award is given to the best entry exemplifying design excellence and having the most impact in addressing the UN SDGs. The winner of this award is:
OBJECT MAKING
Entry Name: NATA DE COCO WOUND DRESSING
Company Name: PATCHEMED COSMETIC TRADING
Winners were chosen through a gruesome deliberation process wherein the jury had two sessions to ensure they selected the most worthy projects to win the Good Design Awards. According to the Design Center of the Philippines, the number of entries has doubled this year, making the selection process challenging, yet exciting for the jurors. The jury consisted of several personalities in design and architecture, headed by Architect Royal Pineda, Principal Architect and CEO of BUDJI+Royal Architecture+Design.
In an interview with BluPrint, Maria Rita O. Matute, Executive Director of Design Center of the Philippines, explains one of the things that makes Filipino designs stand out in the global market is that Filipino designers don’t design not only to design a solution but they are also designing with excellence in mind and executing with the best of their ability.
Matute also explains the organization aims to encourage people to think of design beyond the superficial, beyond making things beautiful, and beyond the aesthetics. “We want to be able to contribute to addressing the problems of those that have been marginalized. That’s the biggest task of designers today,” she adds.

Finally, Matute emphasizes that designers could also use their skills to make a contribution and leave a legacy behind. It can be reflected in the kind of objects, places, images, or systems that you helped create. For younger designers, they must have awareness so they use their God-given talent for good.
Photos from Ed Simon and Design Center of the Philippines