The 18th edition of the AYDA (Asia Young Designer Awards) International Awards, a global CSR initiative by Nippon Paint, returned to Bangkok, Thailand, marking a decade since the city last hosted the global ceremony. Under the theme “CONVERGE: Crafting Cultural Legacies,” the competition attracted over 9,000 student entries from 17 countries and regions. Representing India, Jeeshnu Kalidhas from Chennai Academy of Architecture & Design won the Best Design Impact Award in the Interior Design Category, receiving a cash prize of USD 1,000.
Highlighting the significance of the platform, Wee Siew Kim, Group CEO of NIPSEA Group and Co-President of Nippon Paint Holdings, said AYDA continues to celebrate emerging design talent that blends cultural heritage with sustainable solutions. Mark Titus, President – Decorative Coatings Business, Nippon Paint India, congratulated Jeeshnu, stating that the recognition reflects the strength of Indian design talent and reinforces Nippon Paint India's commitment to nurturing future architects and interior designers through mentorship and global exposure. Jeeshnu Kalidhas described the award as both an honour and a reminder of the responsibility designers hold in creating meaningful spaces that connect people, culture and community.
The AYDA Awards 2026 also crowned Ejhey Durias from the University of Mindanao, Philippines, as Designer of the Year – Architecture, and Jackie Jiang Haoran from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China, as Designer of the Year – Interior Design. Both winners earned a fully funded place in Harvard University's Graduate School of Design's Design Discovery Program. Other notable winners included Michelle Vun Yi Ling (Malaysia), Sinem Göl (Turkiye), Shiu Jerome Millian (Singapore), Sasit Kitiprasert (Thailand), Patricia Danielle Malijan (Philippines), Xu Yinghai (Malaysia), Pavithran Thurairatnam (Sri Lanka), Shuvro Kumar Ghosh (Bangladesh) and Hsu Lawoon (Singapore). Nippon Paint also announced that submissions are now open for AYDA Awards 2027 under the theme “CONVERGE: Embracing Hyperlocal.”