Designing for everyone: the Accessibility Design Competition kicks off

SKIP TO CONTENT

Tiếng Việt

Designing for everyone: the Accessibility Design Competition kicks off

The Accessibility Design Competition is back, energising the design community with bold ideas and a strong commitment to inclusion.

Organised by RMIT University Vietnam, the fifth edition of the Accessibility Design Competition (ADC) welcomed more than 140 participants from 10 universities and 40 industry partners, all united by a shared mission: to create solutions that make the world more accessible for everyone.

What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a national movement, empowering students to tackle real-world accessibility challenges. This year’s competition continues to push boundaries, encouraging creativity, empathy, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Seng Kiat Kok, Dean of Students at RMIT Vietnam, highlighted the transformative power of inclusive design: “Reaching this fifth milestone is more than a celebration of continuity, it is a testament to the growing importance of inclusive design in our society, and to the incredible creativity, empathy, and commitment of our students”.

He emphasised that students would gain hands-on experience solving real-world problems, work with mentors from diverse sectors and engage with individuals who face accessibility challenges every day.

“These experiences deepen not only technical and creative skills, but also students’ capacity to lead with empathy and collaborate across disciplines,” he said. “Whether your ideas win a prize today or not, your contribution matters. You’re helping us reimagine a world that works better for everyone.”

As the founder of ADC, Senior Manager of Careers, Employment and Industry Relations at RMIT Vietnam, Mr Melvin Fernando reflected on the competition’s evolution: “Since 2020, ADC has championed diversity and inclusion, inspired by the challenges faced by students with disabilities in securing meaningful employment. What began as a small initiative at RMIT has grown into a national movement, inspiring communities to embrace innovation, collaboration and social impact”.

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'news-2-adc-opening-melvin-fernando'

Mr Melvin Fernando, founder of the ADC and Senior Manager of Careers, Employment and Industry Relations at RMIT Vietnam, said the competition was inspired by the challenges faced by students with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.

He pointed to a standout example from previous year competition: Team 4D BonDe, who developed a multifunctional joint system to support individuals with hand disabilities -- an affordable alternative to prosthetics in Vietnam.

“Their work spoke well of ADC’s mission: building A World That Works For All,” he said.

This year’s opening also featured a panel discussion titled “Inclusive intelligence: AI for every ability”, where participants heard from both a student aider and industry partners, who shared real-world insights on how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to create more inclusive solutions, from assistive technologies to inclusive product design.

Ms Huong Nguyen, Senior Program Manager at Norwegian Mission Alliance Vietnam, advised participating teams to involve people with disabilities from the very beginning of the design process: “They understand their needs best and how it would work for them.”

Following the ceremony, attendees joined the “Kick-off bootcamp: Accessible by design, powered by AI”, a hands-on workshop designed to equip students with tools and insights to enhance their design thinking and technical capabilities.

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'news-adc-opening-boothcamp-2'

Participants attended the “Kick-off Bootcamp: Accessible by design, powered by AI,” a hands-on workshop designed to equip students with tools and insights to enhance their design thinking and technical capabilities.

This year’s entries are expected to reflect the same human-centered innovation that has defined ADC since its inception. The semi-final and final rounds will take place at RMIT Vietnam’s Saigon South campus on 4 October, where teams will present their ideas live to a judging panel made up of business leaders from across Vietnam.

Over the past four seasons, ADC has attracted more than 553 students from over 30 universities in Vietnam and abroad. Across 184 teams, participants have proposed a wide range of ideas, from mobility-supporting joint systems for people with disabilities to AI-powered smart glasses with integrated cameras, and apps that assist people who stutter in everyday voice communication. The competition continues to be a beacon for inclusive innovation, and this year’s competition promises to inspire the next generation of changemakers.

Story: Ha Hoang

Campus and community

15 August 2025

Share

Engage

Contact RMIT News

Find an expert

RMIT Vietnam facts & figures

Related news

Designing for everyone: the Accessibility Design Competition kicks off

Campus and community

15 Aug 2025

The Accessibility Design Competition is back, energising the design community with bold ideas and a strong commitment to inclusion.

MOET and RMIT co-host conference on Digital Competence Framework for Students

Campus and community

14 Jul 2025

Over 600 experts joined a national conference organised by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), marking a key step in building future-ready digital skills across Vietnam’s higher education system.

RMIT Vietnam appoints new Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director: Professor Scott Thompson-Whiteside

Campus and community

08 Jul 2025

RMIT Vietnam is pleased to welcome Professor Scott Thompson-Whiteside as its new Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, as the University reflects on its 25 years of learning, growth, and community impact in Vietnam.

Can Vietnam’s high school graduation exam reflect students’ real strengths?

Campus and community

03 Jul 2025

Vietnam’s national high school exam is a critical step toward university admission, but questions remain about how accurately it reflects students’ true abilities and prepares them for future challenges beyond the classroom.

Load more +