Jury and new co-host Topawards Asia announced for the FutureCity Innovative Game Design Challenge

Education under current lockdown conditions has become a whole new ballgame, as we shift away from real-world classrooms and towards alternative tools and methods, such as game-based learning. But as we discover the limitations of learning via screens, we’re taking a step back from digital playgrounds and zooming into the world of ‘offline’ games instead, with our brand new competition, ‘Innovative Game Design Challenge’.  

As creators all around the world prepare to square off over their creative game design ideas, we’re excited to announce some new industry players in the game – Topawards Asia, our new competition co-host, along with yet another expert jury and new prizes. 

At the top of their game, Topawards Asia is a renowned monthly packaging design award that celebrates (The) Outstanding Packaging. Founded in 2016, Topawards is a no-holds-barred look at consumer products in Asia, with a unique emphasis on the consumer, rather than creator, perspective. The rules of their game? Submission via invitation, gathered by the Topawards team, past winners and audiences.  

As part of the collaboration, we’re thrilled to have Topawards Asia founder Henry Ho as part of the jury. A graduate of Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s graphic design department, he has worked on packaging design and branding for over 24 years in Japan; with top clients in Asia, including KIRIN, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Shiseido, Kao, Ritz-Carlton, LOTTE, Hotel Okura, Mondelez, NTT Docomo, Blue Bottle Coffee Japan, and Taiwan Star Telecom. His wealth of experience has enabled him to delve deeper into the distinctive aesthetics and appeal of Asian design, leading to the creation of Topawards Asia, the first invitation-based packaging design award in Asia. 

Joining him on the jury will be Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design associate professor Huaxin Wei and creator of board game ‘Trustless Life’ and current StartBurn Inc. engineer Akihiro Kato. Wei, whose current teaching covers game design and development, interaction design methods and process, and user research and participatory design, will be bringing a strong research-backed frame of reference. Meanwhile, Kato is no stranger to the competition process, as both a board game creator and the recipient of various awards, including the YouFab Global Creative Awards 2018 and the Creative Hack Award 2018.

The winning talents of the ‘Innovative Game Design Challenge’ are set to take home respective cash prizes of US$1000 (Grand Prize) and US$800 (Second Prize), while three runner-ups will collect the FabCafe Award. All winning works will be featured across FabCafe Global platforms, receiving media exposure, as well as the potential for work or manufacturing opportunities with companies in our vast global network. Results will be announced in July 2020, via FabCafe Global Facebook Page & challenge page on AWRD.

The Innovative Game Design Challenge is being hosted via AWRD, Loftwork’s in-house competition platform that connects creators and businesses by streamlining the awards process. Organizers can easily promote and manage their events online, finding their perfect winning entries, while creators gain exposure and business opportunities. 

The creative challenge is part of FutureCity, an innovative look at life during and after the pandemic – and the creative possibilities for future living. Part digital forum, part creative movement, FutureCity invites thinkers, creators, entrepreneurs and industry trailblazers to join us in painting a better tomorrow. We have now launched the first part of the FutureCity series, ‘Education’, with more events to be organized over the next few months, in both Japanese and English.

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We’re always open to new collaborations! Contact us to find out how you can take part in working with us: pr@loftwork.com

Loftwork is a creative company dedicated to making a positive impact through design with a global community of innovators. Aside from providing innovative design solutions to global clients across various industries, Loftwork also operates a number of owned services and platforms. Learn more

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