Student design competitions focus on sustainability

Icon to Earth's Wellbeing

CaesarStone has set the Earth as the contestant's client and a fictional organisation called Sustainable Earth Alliance (SEA) is the facilitator. SEA is facilitating the earth's needs and is looking for an architect or interior designer that can capture Earth's message as an icon and entice a positive reaction to it. The icon's goal is to draw awareness to the earth's mortality.

Entrants must design an icon to Earth's Wellbeing on the most appropriate site in their home city. The icon can be anything - a building, artwork, statue or space and the site should preferably be in a place where it will have maximum interaction with people. Contestants must also motivate how this icon can be duplicated and placed in cities around the world, without losing its context and meaning.

Entry criteria

Students are required to submit 3 x A2 matt laminated drawings with accompanying disc in both hires and lowres, in either jpeg or PDF format. One of the three drawings must include a detailed drawing of how CaesarStone can be used in the design. Entrants must clearly mark the matt laminated drawings with first name and surname, name of institution, department of architecture or interior design, lecturers name and all contact numbers and e-mail addresses. Deadline for submission to Emporio is 30 July 2010, judging will take place in August and the awards evening is 19 August 2010

Juri to head jury

Juri Abbott of Urban Edge Architects who conceptualized the brief as well as other well-esteemed architects and designers will head the judging panel.

The winning student and his/her lecturer will get a five-day visit to Israel, which includes a visit to Caesarea, the home of CaesarStone; to Tel Aviv, the “White City” which is melting pot of cultures and artistic styles and to Jerusalem, the capital. Airfare, accommodation and spending money are included in this prize (valued at R50 000). Go to www.caesarstone.co.za for more information.

Adapt. Evolve

The Plascon Prism competition, now in its 11th year has as its theme ‘Adapt. Evolve,' which must mark South Africa's spirited drive to survive, adjust, re-define and assimilate in a sea of change. By opening a new division in the award to the professional market, it encourages industry growth and champions the advancement of a contemporary South African design vernacular. Online-registration for submission of entries has opened and closes for student entries 31 May 2010 and 1 July 2010 for professionals. The winners will be announced at an awards presentation ceremony at Decorex Johannesburg on 6 August 2010.

Entry criteria

• Design students must find their design cues in South Africa's ability to adapt and evolve - to the environment and landscape, eclectic cultures, history and future - transforming an existing space or creating an entirely new one in a style that will ignite a contemporary South Africa. Their design should incorporate the four themes of the brand's 2010 colour forecast: Northern Exotica, Southern Spectacle, Western Desert and Eastern Promise. The section is open to final year interior design, architectural design and industrial design students.
  
• Professionals must submit work completed in the past 24 months that is a true representation of adapting and evolving in a style that is distinctly South African and painted with Plascon. The competition is open to individuals who have worked in the architectural and industrial design industry and who are registered.
  
• Categories are ‘Commercial Projects' (public spaces, offices, parks, stadiums, retail developments and hotels) and ‘Residential Projects' (apartment blocks, estates, cluster developments and private homes)
  
• Entries will be evaluated on innovation, design of the space and aesthetics, use of the Plascon 2010 Colour Forecast and overall insight and application of the concept.

Judges

Some of the country's most influential design voices, including trend analyst Dion Chang, architect Mokena Makeka, fashion designer Malcolm Klük and designer Heath Nash will select student winners. A panel of international IFI-representatives (International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers) and local experts will judge the professional category.

Prizes

Finalists will have their entries displayed at Decorex Joburg, Gallagher Convention Centre 5-9 August 2010. After Decorex Joburg, the work will be on display at the Plascon Concept Store.

Professionals: the overall winner will receive all-expenses five-day trip to 100% Design Shanghai, the leading networking platform for contemporary Chinese design products. Both category winners (residential and commercial) will have their winning entry professionally photographed for their portfolio and their work will be featured in the Plascon eBook.

Design students: the overall winner and his/her lecturer will receive all-expenses paid five-day trip to 100% Design London. In addition the winning institution receives a R10 000 grant. The category winners will each receive R5000, while their institution of study will each receive a Plascon Colour Hamper.

Go to www.plasconprismawards.co.za for more information.