Bike Rack Design Competition at the Dumaguete Exposition

For a week in February each year Foundation University showcases the different colleges to promote and increase student enrollment for the upcoming year.  This year, the Dumaguete Exposition was held at the local shopping mall reaching a greater audience from previous years.  As part of this three-day exposition each college department sets up a booth to inform prospective students what it offers.  This year's theme revolved around technology.  For the Department of Architecture and Fine Arts (DAFA), our booth won for being the most approachable, inviting and engaging.  We had visitors drawing digital art on ipads that were displayed on a large flat screen monitor.  These entries were judged for the best artworks during the expo.  We also had two computer stations demonstrating 3D design tools.  And to engage the students, the university, and the visitors to think about greater issues in design and the built environment, I organized a bike rack design competition to be judged during the exposition.

Dumaguete is known as the motor-city of the province, where the rumble of a motorcycle or pedi cab is considered white noise.  This is the most common form of transportation around the small flat streets where the city business center is roughly five city blocks in size.  Although, it is becoming more common place to see bicycle groups training for their next race and even more recently, a subgroup of people are starting to bike as a form of commuting and recreation.  This growing awareness for bike and environmentally friendly streets spurred the first Critical Mass in Dumaguete just last month!  But in all this bicycle activity, there isn't much Dumaguete offers in securing bicycles when not in use.  It is hard to find a metal pole to lock your bike to, and even more rare, an actual full-on bike rack.  So, in light of this discovery during my commuting experience the past four months, I decided it was due time Dumaguete start installing bike racks.  And the best place to test the bike rack design is in Foundation's own backyard.   

I invited all student's and staff of Foundation University to submit a design for the bike rack competition.  In response to this call, I received 18 proposals to display at the Dumaguete Exposition where three judges reviewed the designs for creativity, concept, sustainability, functionality, and feasibility.  The winning proposal used reclaimed tires and the design was secure, straightforward and easy to use.  We will be going forward with this schematic concept to develop and install a practical bike rack for 10 bikes on FU's campus.  There was also a people's choice award where 101 votes out of 342 decided the winner.

It was rewarding to see the visitor's discuss the design posters during the exposition.  Many commented that it was a new way to engage visitor's and address these types of issues in Dumaguete.

Best Design Award - Love Nature as You Love Yourself by Raian Rey Docuyan and Mohner Inoferio

 People's Choice Award - Stingray by Daryl Suasin.   Daryl is one of my fourth year students.

I designed the t-shirt and "cool people bike" sticker for the winning design and people's choice awards and token prizes for the judges.

DAFA students and staff working at the expo booth. - Photo by Benzi

The Bike Rack Design Competition poster display at the 2013 Dumaguete Exposition.  Notice the SUV's in the background, situated perfectly next to this environmental message. - Photo by Hersley-Ven Casero

Introducing three judges and providing token gift bags for judging the bike rack design competition.  Pictured from left to right: Mark Espedilla, Romauldo (Dondee) Seneris, William Ablong, Foundation U Architecture student and me. - Photo by James

Sitting at the judging table for the School of Hospitality.  I was asked to be one of the judges for one of six events, the vegetable and fruit carving. - Photo by Mariz

Observing the vegetable and fruit carving event.  I've never seen this done before.  It was entertaining. - Photo by Mariz