Tuyển chọn Thiết kế TỐT (TỐT Selection), is a biennial award and will be part of the Asia Pacific Good Design award network, established to identify exemplary models of design/products created by Vietnam. The award encourages efforts that aim to solve problems through design, focusing on the significance of design to people and society. What sets TỐT Selection apart is its belief that everything can be “design” as long as it is built to achieve an ideal or a purpose—whether tangible or intangible. For instance, it could be an implemented initiative that activates an activity in a difficult community/area, a new method in education/research, or even a business model for an entirely new product or service beneficial to society. Because every nominated and awarded design work is not merely a beautiful object, but also something seen as having the potential to improve society and build a better future.
In an increasingly complex society, design is becoming an indispensable tool to solve problems and to uncover new ones. Thus, people’s expectations of design are steadily growing. However, TỐT Selection is not a competitive system aimed at ranking the value of design—it is a mechanism for “discovering good initiatives or exemplary models” to fill or strengthen sustainable connections between people and context. The ideals of the award are rooted entirely in the core Vietnamese cultural philosophy of Chân – Thiện – Mỹ (Truth – Goodness – Beauty), all working in unison to shape a fulfilling and worth-living life.
The first season of the award will launch in 2026, but nominations and inquiries can already be submitted via email to info@museumofdesign.vn with the subject line [TỐT SELECTION].
With the goal of selecting truly good designs in the most holistic way possible, TỐT Selection will not have a fixed number of winners per cycle, nor will it be restricted to any specific design categories. TỐT Selection is meant to be a vivid reflection of human will, resources, and the Vietnamese context at each point in time. Any product produced/sold by a Vietnamese company, any design by a Vietnamese national, any construction built in Vietnam, or even an initiative implemented in Vietnam is fully eligible for self-nomination or to be nominated for the award.
TỐT Selection features two most significant award categories:
(1) Timeless Design—selected from nominations of designs that have proven successful over time (more than 15 years) but have never received an award (this can include anonymous designs);
(2) Lifetime Achievement—chosen from nominations of designers/architects/activists (over 60 years old or deceased) who have made great contributions to their field, profession, or to the design community.
The symbol of TỐT Selection was designed by renowned designer, painter, and educator Lê Huy Văn, who is known for legendary works such as the iconic beer mug, the logo of the Vietnam Writers’ Association Publishing House, and hundreds of famous book covers. The design is inspired by the yin-yang void-solid window in traditional Vietnamese architecture, embodying the philosophy of interaction, transformation between matter and consciousness, and representing the infinite energy needed to create a happy world.
All winning works of each season will be exhibited and become a permanent part of the “100% Design” collection of the Museum of Design. Each awarded piece will receive a “review” from the Design Committee of the Museum of Design along with international design experts. During the evaluation process, the jury may consult external experts on specific topics such as technology, environment, law, and economics, to ensure the most accurate perspective on the nominated initiatives. Winners may use this assessment content along with the certification logo for various promotional and commercial activities. Additionally, awarded designs may be selected by the Museum’s commercial curators to be part of the Design Store.
