Koelnmesse has commissioned The German Design Council to act as overseers and organizers of the young designers’ exhibition and prize at the International Furniture Fair, imm cologne 09, which is named "[d3] contest" since last year and was formerly known as inspired by cologne. Up to 30 new product designs, the work of design students and young designers from around the world, will be preselected and featured in a special exhibition for the sixth time. The jury for the exhibitor prize, the interior innovation award cologne 09, (due to be held at imm cologne) will then choose the three most talented, up-and-coming international designers for 2009 from these nominees. A catalogue will be published on the occasion of the exhibition and the nominated participants will be actively involved in the press activities associated with imm cologne.
Eligibility
Entries are sought from design students and young designers from around the world who have gained their diploma not more than three years ago. Applications will also be accepted from groups consisting of a maximum of three people.
Application
Design students and young designers should use the application form to apply for nomination. From the applications received, The German Design Council will nominate a maximum of 30 products, the designers of which will be invited to exhibit and take part in the competition.
Parallel to the direct application process, university professors will be asked to recommend individual students. Scouting will also be undertaken at fairs, diploma presentations and other events to find innovative products from young designers. The choice of designers will be made taking account of the provisions of the German General Equal Treatment Act. The judges' decision is final.
Entry for pre-selection is free. Exhibition participants will be entitled to financial assistance, made available by Koelnmesse, in respect of their transportation, travel and accommodation costs. The level of financial reimbursement awarded will be agreed with each participant individually. Insurance cover for the products on show at the exhibition will be assumed by Koelnmesse.
Submission
Products from the Interiors sector, including furniture, home accessories, lighting, flooring, wallpaper and textiles, will be accepted for inclusion in the nomination process. The designs should have been produced within the previous twelve months.
Only prototype products may be submitted which have not yet been included in series productions, although those in the preparatory stages of series production may be eligible for entry. Products submitted may have already been on show at other exhibitions or have been featured in publications.
Not more than three products may be entered by the same applicant. A 1:1 model(s) of the product(s) submitted should already be available for display in the exhibition or the entrant must be in a position to produce the said design model at his/her own expense by the time of the exhibition. A separate application form must be completed and signed for each product and sent to the address below, together with not more than two A4 (210mm x 297mm) colour prints of the products. Digital submissions cannot be accepted, with the exception of PDF files (maximum 1 MB), which should be sent
exclusively to the e-mail address given. Documentation submitted for pre-selection cannot be returned.
Designers selected (nominated) to take part in the exhibition and prize competition will be requested to send in their products (in the form of a 1:1 model) for the show. All the products included in the exhibition will be on display from 19 to 21 January 2009 at imm cologne 09.
The weekend before the fair opens, the jury for the interior innovation award cologne 09 will also assess the work of the young designers featured in the exhibition and select three up-and-coming designers for imm cologne 09.
Awards
First Prize: 3.000 Euros
Second Prize: 2.000
Third Prize: 1.000 Euros
The prizes will be awarded at the ceremony for the interior innovation award cologne on Monday, 19 January 2009. Nominated competition participants are expected to be present at the imm cologne for the judging, press activities and awards ceremony. Participants nominated (or a representative from the design group) must undertake to be present at the fair at least during the period 18 to 20 January 2009 (excluding arrival and departure days).
Schedule
15 September 2008: Closing date for applications
End of September 2008: Nominee selection
Beginning of October 2008: Notification by e-mail
19 - 25 January 2009: Exhibition ( [d3] contest at imm cologne 09)
Submission of Prototypes: All the young designers nominated will be informed individually of the procedure to follow in preparing for the exhibition and awards ceremony and of the imm cologne 09 fair events schedule.