As part of the HSE Creative Open awards, the Research Institute for Tourism Development under the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the Art and Design School at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia), has launched a special category titled “Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Contemporary Design”.

This special category aims to discover modern design solutions that reflect Uzbekistan’s intangible cultural heritage and highlight its significance in the context of global tourism.

The competition is open to students from around the world. Participants are first expected to study Uzbekistan’s intangible cultural heritage elements – traditional crafts, musical traditions, dance, oral folklore, rituals, and celebrations. Based on their research, participants will develop a unique concept emphasizing the importance of the selected cultural element within Uzbekistan and on the international stage. Entries must feature original concepts and visual designs. Both completed projects and conceptual ideas with high-quality visualizations are eligible for submission.

The competition, organized by the Art and Design School at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, was launched in 2022.

Roman Bondarchuk, UzA