Announced by the EU Delegation on September 9, the awards are committed to the proliferation of sustainable design practices in Vietnam, and the development of communities around these practices.In doing so, the aim is to ultimately contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable inclusive development, which is one of the priorities in the EU’s engagement with the country.

Implemented in partnership with ELLE Decoration Vietnam magazine, the first phase of the EVSDA project will consist of a series of events and activities between September 2024 and spring 2025, culminating in the inauguration of the awards in mid-2025. Thereafter, the second phase of the project will be the long-run organisation of the EVSDA on an annual basis.

The EVSDA project consists of architecture, product design, communication design, and innovation. Through the cultural and creative dimensions brought about by these pillars, the project aims to highlight how sustainable and innovative design practices can engender concrete and positive experiences in our daily life.

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said, “The project reflects our ambition to develop an innovative framework to support and facilitate the transformation of our lives in a creative way. With this project, I very much look forward to connecting with Vietnamese architects, designers, artists, engineers, cultural practitioners and innovators who will create a bridge between the world of the arts and culture on one side and that of science and technology on the other, to bring in many inspiring ideas combining sustainability, practicality and aesthetics, for the benefit of our daily life. We need all creative minds to make this project a success.”

“I am also delighted to see a bold blend of sustainability, innovation, and deep respect for nature as a growing trend among the Vietnamese design community nowadays. The project is expected to attract the participation of many Vietnamese practitioners in contributing to tangible changes that will improve our daily life, something that people can touch and feel, in living spaces, daily consumption or public spaces,” added Guerrier.

Four workshops will be held from October 2024 and January 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Led by European and Vietnamese design experts, the workshops aim to create opportunities for professional and in-depth exchanges and collaboration in sustainable creative design.

The first workshop will focus on sustainable architecture, and take place on October 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Hosting prestigious European and Vietnamese architects, the workshop will provide an opportunity for participants, primarily architects but also an interdisciplinary group of designers, to exchange on sustainable and eco-friendly architectural designs that prioritise environmental responsibility and resource efficiency.

In addition, a series of videos linked to the four thematic pillars and sharing professional insights and discussing current design trends towards sustainability, will be produced and made available online.

The EVSDA project is also in the process of creating a digital platform where artists, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, architects, students, and other interested groups can share good practices and ideas, converse on addressing sustainability challenges, and expand networks of like-minded professionals.