The Ministry of Culture is conducting targeted work to develop design and creative services as part of its overall cultural policy, supporting the country’s cultural and creative industries. Periodic forums, summits, and awards on these topics provide evidence of this. Thus, the Azerbaijan Design Forum was the country’s first annual design forum, bringing together professionals in this field. Its 2019 edition was held at the International Mugham Centre on 23 November 2019, organised by Azerbaijan Digital Arts School and Graphic Design Azerbaijan, with the support of the Ministry of Culture. The forum’s primary purpose was to bring together Azerbaijani designers, exchange experiences and discuss and share the most innovative approaches in the design field. The event also discussed the importance of Baku’s inclusion in the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities in the “Design” category in the same year. In total, 611 works by more than 400 designers were submitted to the Azerbaijan Design Forum 2019 competition, organised into 10 categories: branding, packaging design, illustration, web design, industrial design, application design, interior design, exterior design, print design, and outdoor design. The works were evaluated anonymously online by a jury of world-renowned professionals comprising 18 judges from six countries.
Gradually, the forum evolved into a summit, the last of which took place on June 30, 2024. The “Azerbaijan Design Summit 2024” was held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and was committed to fostering innovation and cultural exchange on a global scale. The summit has garnered the attention of experts from 50 countries and over 2,000 participants worldwide. The summit’s primary objective was to host a competitive exhibition showcasing over 230 projects across 14 categories. A distinguished panel of 50 judges from around the world evaluated the submissions, ensuring a fair and comprehensive decision-making process. This gathering of esteemed professionals further underscored the summit’s importance as a global platform for design dialogue.
Established in 2018, the Azerbaijan Design Award is a competition platform aimed at discovering creative and outstanding design talent, thereby enhancing the quality of the design industry. The first professional competition platform in Azerbaijan’s design industry, it brings together professionals from over 10 design fields. The final night of the 4th Azerbaijan Design Award competition took place on June 24, 2023, with the organisational support of the Ministry of Culture and the Azerbaijan Designers Association, offering free-of-charge participation to local and international designers. Over 700 designers participated in the competition, submitting more than 1,200 projects across 16 categories. The competition winners were evaluated by 22 judges representing 10 countries, with 1st to 5th places awarded in each category.
On December 3, 2023, Azerbaijan Fashion Week was held under the organisation of the Ministry of Culture, bringing together designers working in fashion, buyers, local and foreign media representatives, and anyone interested in the field for potential cooperation. As part of the event, the Azerbaijan Fashion Forwards Competition, which aims to support young fashion designers studying in higher education institutions and fashion schools in the country, was held, along with a master class by renowned fashion designers. The event concluded with a fashion show, during which 20 designers from various countries presented their collections.
Comments are closed.