FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the competition. Please read the information below as well as the complete rules and guidelines of the competition before asking any more questions.
QUESTIONS
On Eligibility:
1. Up to how many members can there be in a team entry?
3. Why is the competition not open to older’ professionals?
4. Is the YP Design Challenge a nationwide competition?
On Registration:
5. Why do we need to register?
7. Is the registration fee refundable in case we register but are not able to submit entries?
On Community Area Visits:
On Submission Requirements:
13. What kind of materials can be used as presentation boards? Can recycled paper boards be used?
15. Where and how should we submit our entries?
16. After the announcement of winners, what will happen to my presentation board?
On Design Parameters and Judging Criteria:
17. Why is BP220 used as a design parameter?
21. Can we submit designs that have never been tested or built before?
On Awards and Prizes:
22. Can an individual or team win more than once in the competition?
On Copyright of Submitted Designs:
23. How will the copyright of winning entries be protected?
24. Will the winning entries be constructed/built?
ADDITIONAL FAQs AS OF AUGUST 28, 2008
QUESTIONS
On Jury Panel and Judging:
25. Who are the members of the jury panel for the different design challenge categories?
On Presentation Techniques for Submissions:
27. Can we use autocad for presentation?
On Schedule of Community Area Visits:
On Eligibility:
ANSWERS
On Eligibility:
1. Up to how many members can there be in a team entry?
Up to three (3) team members may enter the YP Design Challenge, one member being the official registrant. The registration form allows for two other team members to be named. Please also refer to item 14 of the competition guidelines.
A team may be composed of members from different fields or disciplines. Architects/ architecture students may team up with engineers/engineering students.
3. Why is the competition not open to older’ professionals?
The competition targets students and young professionals with not more than 5 years of professional experience. It is primarily seen as a venue for harnessing ideas from the young and an opportunity for them to directly address issues on sustainability in their design solutions. However, the older’ professionals (especially those in the academe) are encouraged to participate in the competition by becoming mentors/advisers to eligible students and young professionals.
4. Is the YP Design Challenge a nationwide competition?
Because of the mandatory area visits to selected TAO-assisted communities in Metro Manila, the competition is considered a regional or NCR-wide competition. However, this does not disqualify contestants from outside NCR from joining, as long as they are able to comply with the requirements of the competition.
On Registration:
5. Why do we need to register?
The jury will review all eligible submissions anonymously and to make this possible, each entry shall be assigned a unique registration number during the registration process. Registration will also help the organizers estimate the number of submissions expected to be received and reviewed by the jury.
Yes, the PhP300.00 registration fee is required for every submission. Please refer to item 19 of the competition guidelines for details of registration fee payments.
7. Is the registration fee refundable in case we register but are not able to submit entries?
No, the registration fee is NON-refundable.
Yes, such arrangement could be made with the competition organizers by the class adviser/professor. Registration fees may be paid for three entries and registration numbers given. Schedule for the whole class’ area visit may also be arranged. Identification of the competitor/s should be made before the opening date of receipt of submissions (October 1, 2008).
On Community Area Visits:
Only one (1) visit to any of the TAO-assisted communities is required to be eligible. A series of community visits shall be scheduled and arranged by TAO-Pilipinas. Only 20 slots will be allotted for each site visit; registrants must reserve slots from the schedule list that TAO shall post in the competition website. Please click here for updates on the schedule of community visits and map to meeting points.
Background information on the communities that may be visited shall be posted on the competition website. Please go to the resources page for information that has already been posted.
No, transportation costs to and from the community areas shall be shouldered by the competitors. The competition organizers shall set a meeting point for all registered competitors that is already in close proximity to the community to be visited. Please click here for updates on the schedule of community visits and map to meeting points.
A jury panel composed of design professionals shall select the winning designs for each design challenge category. However, design critiques from community representatives will be solicited and considered by the jury in their deliberations. It is thus important that the contestants are aware of conditions in urban poor communities and their designs influenced by actual situations in the community.
On Submission Requirements:
13. What kind of materials can be used as presentation boards? Can recycled paper boards be used?
Presentation boards should be size 30″ by 40″ (oriented vertically), exhibition quality, and preferably of foam board material. Recycled paper board may be used as long as it remains rigid especially after handling and transport during submission and jury deliberations.
The presentation board layout format (as prescribed in Annex A-C of the competition rules and guidelines) do not have specific dimensions and is a general positioning of drawings and other elements that need to be included in the proposed designs. This prescribed format will guide the jury during deliberations.
15. Where and how should we submit our entries?
Please refer to item 28 of the competition guidelines.
16. After the announcement of winners, what will happen to my presentation board?
Please refer to items 42 and 43 of the competition guidelines.
On Design Parameters and Judging Criteria:
17. Why is BP220 used as a design parameter?
Batas Pambansa 220 is the mandated set of rules and standards for economic and socialized housing projects. Socialized housing projects are approved by the HLURB (Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board) and issued building permits by local government units with reference to this law. Please go to the resources page of the competition website or click here to download the pdf copy of BP220.
As per BP 220 standards, thirty-two (32) square meters is the minimum lot size for socialized housing projects and is therefore a realistic parameter for Design Challenge 1: Sustainable Shelter. Although this may prove a real challenge, it should not limit contestants from developing their designs. Clustering of units is already one of different ways to approach the design problem. The competition is open to any design ideas as long as it meets the established judging criteria.
Cost effectiveness of the designs will be reflected in the materials and technology proposed, considering varied factors such as building tools/equipment, labor and construction methods, ease of maintenance and repair. Costing estimates should be considered by the contestants but computations do not need to be included in the submission.
“Portable playground” stems from the idea that children’s play areas can be demountable and transferable to available open spaces in a community, making it accessible to more children. Going through the specific requirements of the design assignment and judging criteria in Annex C of the competition guidelines will further clarify the design problem.
21. Can we submit designs that have never been tested or built before?
The YP Design Challenge is open to any design ideas that can meet the judging criteria established for each of the three design challenges. Thus, proposed designs could be fresh from the drawing board and have not been constructed but has high possibility of being constructed. Originality and innovativeness are part of the judging criteria for the proposed designs. This means that the proposed design could demonstrate the application of new knowledge, new application of existing knowledge, or the unique mix of existing and new knowledge.
On Awards and Prizes:
22. Can an individual or a team win more than once in the competition?
Yes, it is possible that an individual or a team competitor may win more than once if he/she/they registered and submitted entries in more than one design challenge category. Since the jury will review the submissions anonymously, identities of winners will only be revealed after the selection of winning entries and it is possible to have the same winner/s in different categories. Although please note item 14 of the competition guidelines which stipulates that each individual or team member may submit only one (1) submission for each design challenge category.
On Copyright and Submitted Designs:
23. How will the copyright of winning entries be protected?
Please refer to items 42 and 44 of the competition rules and guidelines.
24. Will the winning entries be constructed or built?
No, the winning design entries are not intended to be used for actual construction. However, prototype construction to adopt the winning designs is targeted as a separate project at the close of the competition, depending on the availability of funds. (Separate fundraising activities may be undertaken for possible prototype construction and implementation of winning designs.) Another eventuality is that ideas and details/components from the winning designs may be incorporated in TAO projects in the communities and the designers will be given the opportunity to be involved in TAO’s technical assistance work in the case that winning designs are to be implemented.
On Jury Panel and Judging:
25. Who are the members of the jury panel for the different design challenge categories?
The members of jury panels for the three design challenge categories are as follows:
Jury Panel for Design Challenge 1: Sustainable Shelter
- Arlene Christy D. Lusterio, Executive Director, TAO-Pilipinas, Inc.
- Nathaniel von Einsiedel, PhD., President, Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP)
- Ramon Alberto B. Nolido, President, R.A. Nolido Construction Corporation
Jury Panel for Design Challenge 2: Trash Transformation
- Gertrudes C. Samson, Education & Training Program Coordinator, TAO-Pilipinas, Inc.
- Rachelle F. Medina, Editor-in-Chief, Real Living Magazine
- One jury member to be announced
Jury Panel for Design Challenge 3: Portable Playground
- Maria Faith Y. Varona, Research & Publications Program Coordinator, TAO-Pilipinas, Inc.
- Eleanor C. Ramos, Animator and Film Director
- One jury member to be announced
Profiles of the jury members are posted on the Jury Profile page
It is highly encouraged that designers think outside of the box in proposing designs for the competition. As noted in the competition rules and guidelines, the judging criteria outlined should not limit the competitors in developing their designs. Non-conformance in the proposed designs can be considered if there is sufficient justification of variance and depending on the deliberation and decision of the jury panel.
We maintain that BP220 reference be included in the judging criteria for competitors to consider since this is the prevailing basis for social housing designs. The intent actually is to NOT have designs with even smaller housing units than the minimum standards. Additionally, financing programs for socialized housing also refer to BP220 minimum standards for approval of housing proposals. With consideration for BP220 as take-off point, we encourage alternative approaches to solving the design problem (especially space allocation).
On Presentation Techniques for Submissions:
- 27. Can we use autocad for presentation?
Yes, computer-aided images can be one of the presentation techniques used by competitors. Please refer to item 26 of the competition rules and guidelines.
On Schedule of Community Area Visits:
- 28. Do you have community visits scheduled on weekend since that is the only available time for us who are already working?
The schedule of community area visits is posted on the Competition Schedules page of the competition website. Please coordinate with Ms. Mai Ilagan (telephone numbers 441-0998 or 0929-6800924) to arrange weekend schedules for community visits.
Yes, as long as the official registrant/representative is eligible according to items 13 and 14 of the competition rules and guidelines.
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