Tropeo Katha 2023

Applications are open for CITEM’s new KATHA Awards Trophy

Submission date: August 1 - 31, 2023

View full mechanics

I have read, understood, and agree to the Tropeo Katha Terms and Conditions

Taking inspiration from the Filipino word “Katha”—meaning to create, invent, or compose, the Center for International Trade Exposition and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, has been aptly using the word to name its awards program that recognizes design excellence in the various Philippine export industries supported by the agency.

The KATHA Awards, since its introduction, has been a hallmark of Philippine product design excellence and innovation. It is an emblem and statement that seeks to inspire and challenge exporters to constantly create and develop original and innovative products from the home, fashion, and lifestyle sectors, and from the food sector of the country.

To mark CITEM's new era under Dr. Edward Fereira's leadership, the agency launches the search for a new design for the KATHA Awards Trophy.

Selection Criteria

The new trophy design of the KATHA Awards will underscore design excellence, ingenuity, innovation, and sustainability.

Design Excellence and Aesthetic Appeal (35%)

Visual Impact: design, appearance, and overall aesthetic.
Design Cohesion: harmony and coherence of the design elements.
Presentation: clarity and effectiveness of the design presentation, including visual representations, sketches, or prototypes.

Creativity and Innovation (35%)

Creativity and Ingenuity: quality and level of imagination, resourcefulness, and inventiveness demonstrated in the design.
Innovation: degree to which the design pushes boundaries and introduces novel ideas or approaches.

Sustainability and Functionality (30%)

Usability: functionality and practicality of the trophy design.
Manufacturing Feasibility: ease of production and practicality of manufacturing the design within reasonable constraints.
Materials and Processes: use of sustainable materials and environment-friendly manufacturing processes.

Prizes

Tropeo KATHA offers the following incentives for the winner and listed finalists:

Winner

Monetary Reward: One winning designer/design team shall receive a cash prize amounting to Php 30,000 (subject to applicable tax) and a certificate.
Promotion and Marketing Support: The winning individual/team and design will be promoted by CITEM through its platforms and channels, and partner publications. The winner will also be invited to and recognized at the KATHA Awards night.
Design Use: The winning design will be reproduced into an actual trophy for the KATHA Awards and will have its debut at Manila FAME 2023 KATHA Awards.

Top Five (5) Finalists

Promotion and Marketing Support: A special feature on CITEM’s social media platforms and channels.
The five (5) finalists will each receive a certificate of recognition.

For any inquiries, kindly contact the Tropeo KATHA Secretariat at tropeokatha@citem.com.ph.

I have read, understood, and agree to the Tropeo Katha Terms and Conditions

Communications

The complete details of the competition, including timelines, mechanics, and judging period, will be communicated to participants and the general public through CITEM and Manila FAME official channels. Participants are responsible for adhering to the specified timelines.
The winning designer and finalists will be notified directly by CITEM through phone and email. They shall also be notified of the period as to when the prize/s shall be claimed.
The announcement of winners will also be made public through CITEM and Manila FAME official channels.

Evaluation Process

A panel of judges, composed of design experts, industry professionals, and representatives from CITEM, will evaluate the design entries. The decision of the management team and judges of Tropeo Katha on the selection of the winner shall be treated as final and binding to all the participants.

Claiming of Prize/s

The designer(s) of the winning entry shall be solely responsible for claiming the prize within ninety (90) days after the formal announcement at Manila FAME 2023.
The prize will be forfeited if the designer(s) of the winning entry fails to claim within the 90-day period. CITEM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award unclaimed prizes to alternate participants or not to award the unclaimed prizes.

Publicity and Promotion

By participating in the competition, participants grant CITEM the right to use their names, designs, and photographs for promotional purposes without additional compensation.

Intellectual Property Rights

By submitting a design to this competition, the designer/design team is accepting these Terms and Conditions. They further agree that if their submission is selected as the winning entry, they are assigning full rights on their design to CITEM and will not be entitled to receive any royalties or other consideration, now or in the future, for such assignment other than the contest prize set forth.
CITEM shall file and retain the intellectual property rights to the winning design. CITEM shall reserve the exclusive rights to use and showcase the designs for purposes related to the Tropeo Katha Competition and the Katha Awards program.
Entries must be entirely an original work and must not breach or be in violation of any copyright or other rights of third parties.
CITEM maintains the right to further develop the design to suit its brand. The design must not include any defamatory, offensive or unlawful content.

Amendments and Disputes

CITEM reserves the right to amend or terminate the Terms of Reference if necessary. Any disputes or concerns arising from the competition will be addressed and resolved by CITEM in a fair and transparent manner.
These rules and mechanics are designed to ensure a fair and transparent competition that encourages creativity, originality, and innovation. Participants should carefully read and adhere to these guidelines throughout the competition process.
This competition will encourage a spirit of creativity and innovativeness among Filipino designers, manufacturers, and would-be producers, in order to remain competitive in the export market.
CITEM also aims to sustain the momentum of design consciousness in the Philippines and to give due recognition to designers and manufacturers under whose directions these products were executed.

I have read, understood, and agree to the Tropeo Katha Terms and Conditions

Tropeo Katha Terms and Conditions