Call me impressed. Design Can Change, a site dedicated to teaching designers about how they can become more sustainable in their practices, is incredible. The site is a smashLAB initiative and a non-commercial effort that will hold your attention for a good fifteen minutes if you race through the production, a good hour or so if you want to soak in the materials.

Take the pledge that will note you as a sustainable designer. Learn what you can do to seed that change in your studio so that your efforts will grow to your clients and suppliers. Go. Now. Do it.

At right: Fern Leaves by M Lustbader.

Visions of science & technology is the UK’s premier science and technology photographic awards scheme. As a natural progression from previous competitions, this year will see the widening of the categories to embrace the broader scope of applied science within engineering & technology. This has been reflected in the updated name and logo.

To the judges of the awards, a Vision of Science is an attention-grabbing image that gives new insight into the world of science & technology or the workings of nature. It may show something never seen before, it may explain a scientific phenomenon, it may illustrate scientific data or it may simply be an image that shows the beauty of technology.

Up to six images may be entered in each category or special award. No image may be entered in more than one category or special award and the judges reserve the right to re-categorise any entry. Visit the site to learn about the categories and other rules. Deadline: 1 July 2007.

Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer today announced a groundbreaking video submission contest in association with John Woo and his video game production company, Tiger Hill Entertainment, Spike TV and Fox Interactive Media: Stranglehold’s True to John Woo Short Film Contest. Hosted exclusively on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/strangleholdgame), and promoted across other Fox Interactive Media properties including IGN Entertainment (http://ign.com/stranglehold), this unique contest is scheduled to launch April 30th and encourages contestants to create the most authentic John Woo-style short film. Contest ends 25 June 2007. No purchase necessary.

The grand prize winner will receive $25,000, a trip for two to Midway’s Chicago studios to meet developers and tape an interview for Spike TV, the chance to personally premiere the short film on Spike TV, an authentic “Hard Boiled” movie poster autographed by John Woo, an Amp’d mobile phone with six months’ service, and a copy of Stranglehold.(a)
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Marketing managers, web analysts and business intelligence experts have been meeting at the Emetrics Summit since 2002 to learn how to increase the return on online investments. It’s your turn to join the discussion.

Learn how to Optimize the Value of Your Online Marketing, meet industry gurus, compare insights, see hands-on demonstrations of the latest tools in action. Finally, walk away with specific answers to your specific questions and specific solutions to your specific problems.

This even has sold out in previous years. Early Bird ended 23 March, but they’re still advertising for the San Fran dates. Visit the site for details.

At right: Photo by Nicola Browne.

Are you the next Garden Photographer of The Year? With thousands of pounds worth of prizes up for grabs, this is a unique opportunity for entrants to have their photographs exhibited at a major London venue, alongside some of the world’s most talented photographers in the gardening and landscape world.

Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to enter single images or themed portfolios.

The 2007-8 competition has the following categories: Plant Portraits, My Garden, Garden Views, Life in the Garden. Annual Category: Trees. There will be a new special award for Young Garden Photographer of The Year for under 16s. Closing date for submissions is January 2008. Visit the site for details.

The contest is FREE to enter and anyone can take part, aspiring amateurs as well as pro shooters. Just sign up and submit your best photo for a chance to win one of our fantastic prizes.

There are three rounds, each with a different theme, and you can contribute one photo for each round. Sign-up and submission is completely free and without commitment.

The winner is determined 50% by public vote, 50% by our highly qualified judges’ votes.

Round 1 is now open for submissions: the topic is “The Meaning of Life” and the prize is a Leica D-Lux 3. Visit the site for further info on themes, prizes and deadlines. Deadline for this round: 7 May.

Are you a designer, architect, photogapher, set designer, artist, student or ‘creative’? Whatever your nationality, whatever your age, Jannelli&Volpi would like you to take part in the Wall Paper Design Contest.

Let your imagination roam free: create a design for a wall decoration. a key element of in the interior of a hotel room or suite in a bed and breakfast. Download the entry form and get involved in the Wall Paper Design Contest. enter the world of Jannelli&Volpi, where immagination has no walls.

Anyone cna enter either as an individual or as a group. Registration must be completed by 14 September 2007. Visit the site for details.

From the site: “Yes, you read that correctly. It started with an online petition from a fan on the 2K forums, imploring us to make a BioShock limited edition. 19,692 signatures later, I opened up a poll on the Cult of Rapture asking BioShock devotees what they would like to see in the box.

“Now I ask you, what would you like ON the box?

“…So now, for the next two weeks, I’ll be collecting submissions for designs that could go on the front of the BioShock Limited Edition box.” Deadline 2 May. Visit the site for details.

In support of Are You Listening?, her solo album being released May 15th, Sanctuary Records artist Dolores O’Riordan is offering the public a chance to design web banners promoting the album preorder. O’Riordan, the iconic former lead singer of Ireland’s The Cranberries, has sold in excess of 40 million albums worldwide. Are You Listening? is the much anticipated album that marks Dolores’ first foray back into music in over four years.

“The Dolores O’Riordan Online Banner Challenge,” which began on 10 April 2007, takes place on Brickfish.com and runs until 26 April 2007. O’Riordan is looking for the public to upload their web banner designs that highlight the heart and soul of her upcoming album, Are You Listening? Open to the public, anyone can come to Brickfish.com to vote, review and view the entries (as a free registered member or a guest). Fans of the entries will influence Sanctuary’s choice on the winning banner. Anyone can preorder the CD now and get the album as a free MP3 download on May 7, over a week before it is available in stores in the US. The limited time offer includes two instant MP3 downloads, access to a ticket presale for the North American tour, and the option to buy a limited edition t-shirt.
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Omagh Memorial Working Group invites submissions from suitably experienced and skilled Design Teams, for the design, production and installation of a permanent memorial to the Omagh Bomb of 15 August 1998. It is essential that design teams have an appropriate mix of skills and experience including expertise in Landscape Architecture and visual art/three dimensional design.

Designs Teams will be expected to prepare proposals for the integrated treatment of the bomb site and the temporary memorial garden and the project will entail the development of a permanent memorial garden with a major public art element.

The total budget for this project is £240,000 with at least £100,000 of this budget being ring fenced for the public art element.

Full details of the competition conditions and the competition brief can be obtained from Mr Frank Sweeney, Head of Arts and Tourism, Omagh District Council, the Grange, Mountjoy Road, Omagh, County Tyrone, N. Ireland, BT79 7BL or they can be downloaded from the website of Omagh District Council, www.omagh.gov.uk. The closing date for Stage 1 submissions is 12.00 noon on Friday 25 May 2007.