NEW YORK – New York Festivals® Torch Awards announced the 2016 Finalist Teams who will compete in the Inclusive Design Challenge taking place in New York City on May 18. The Finalist Teams, comprised of 18-27-year old creatives from around the globe, will begin the day fine-tuning their work during an intensive work session with their mentor, a member of the New York Festivals Executive Jury, who will help them polish their pitch.
Finalist Teams will each have 10 minutes to present their idea to an exclusive jury panel, including representatives from The Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD) and members of NYF’s 2016 Executive Jury. The 2016 Grand-Winning Team will be announced live from stage on May 19 at the 2016 New York Show℠ during the awards ceremony in the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
The 2016 Torch Award Finalist Teams and Mentors:
Team Arigatos – Japan / South Korea
Yuki Abe – Copywriter, Dentsu Japan
Yuto Fujita – Planner, Dentsu Japan
Doh Kim – Art Director, Cheil Worldwide South Korea
Marina Kobayashi – Creative Planer, Dentsu Japan
Mentor: Valerie Cheng, Head of Creative Shop Southeast Asia, Facebook – Singapore
TEAM ONGAESH – Japan
Shoya Miyashita – Planner, Dentsu
Chika Otaka – Planner, Dentsu
Anna Saito – Art Director, Dentsu
Yuriko Yokouchi – Planner, Dentsu
Mentor: Lisa Bennett, Chief Creative Officer, TM Advertising – USA
TEAM OWLS – USA
Summer Arrowood – Product Design student, Otis College of Art and Design
Alexandra Felix – Product Design student, Otis College of Art and Design
Mellanie Urquiza – Product Design student, Otis College of Art and Design
Mentor: Judy John, Chief Executive Officer/Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Toronto – Canada
TEAM SPACE BAR – The Philippines
Jamie Cabatit – Art Director, TBWA/SantiagoMangadaPuno
Samantha Nicola Dedel – Art Director, TBWA/SantiagoMangadaPuno
Greg Hernandez – Copywriter, TBWA/SantiagoMangadaPuno
Denise Nicole Oyog – Copywriter, TBWA/SantiagoMangadaPuno
Mentor: Frank Bodin, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide – Switzerland
TEAM THE BEST– USA
Sheuefang Lee – Art Director, BBDO
Christopher Vega – Copywriter, BBDO
Mentor: Josy Paul, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, BBDO – India
New York Festivals launched the Torch Awards in 2014 to champion young creative talent. The competition encourages creatives from the ages of 18-25 to take part in a unique competition that explores a creative challenge and offers mentor training on how to pitch their idea.
For the 2016 Torch Awards, New York Festivals® partnered with The Institute for Human Centered Design(IHCD). IHCD is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design.
Finalists in this year’s Inclusive Design Challenge will present their creative concept for a digital media showcase that presents the inclusive design progress and success stories. The showcase will become a permanent fixture in their showroom at the IHCD headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.
Torch Awards Jury members will determine the Grand-Winning Team based on the following criteria: relevance to and understanding of IHCD brand and mission; a clear demonstration of campaign goals and strategy; adherence to the brief, including scope and budgets; and creative idea.
