The University of San Carlos grabbed major and minor awards in the recent Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) on April 16, 2024, at the B Hotel, Quezon City.
Out of all the participating schools, USC was awarded as the Best Educational Institution while IDr. Hermie Ray Oplado grabbed the Best Mentor Award. USC also received the following recognitions:
- Gold Awardee – Maureen Abegail Mendoza
- Silver Awardee – Maryloise Guzman
- Best Color Choice Award – Theresa Marie Cabales
- Best Green Innovation Award – Maureen Abegail Mendoza
- People’s Choice Award – Maureen Abegail Mendoza
- Finalists – Mikaela Jacy Rebaño and Valerie Mae Alvarez
This is the 3rd time that USC bagged a Gold Award. The first was in 2014 (Kristine Caballes) followed by another in 2019 (Abigail Florence Taghoy).
As this year’s Gold Awardee, Mendoza will be representing the Philippines in Chennai, India in July 2024.
Her work, “KITA-KITA” emphasizes early evacuation, trust, and community support to mitigate the impact of natural calamities, especially in disaster-prone areas like the Philippines,
Serving as more than just a shelter, “KITA-KITA” aims to be a community space for healing and renewal, advocating for hope and resilience in the face of challenges.
First launched in 2008, the AYDA Awards is part of Nippon Paint’s vision to nurture the next generation of Architectural and Interior Design talents.
AYDA provides students with networking opportunities, workshops, mentoring, and the chance to win fully-funded placements at prestigious institutions like Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Since then, AYDA has grown in terms of reach and stature, establishing itself as one of the premier design awards globally.
With reporting from IDr. Hermie Ray Oplado, BS Interior Design Program