The annual Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Awards offer Ontario architects, students and interns a wonderful opportunity to showcase their best work and increase public appreciation of the services provided by the architectural profession.

Last year, the OAA Awards attracted 157 submissions for several award categories. They hope to exceed this number in 2008 and encourage you to submit your projects or nominate a deserving candidate.

The entry deadline is 4:30pm on Thursday, 31 January 2008. Visit www.oaa.on.ca for complete Award details and entry forms.

Via: Canadian Architect

Artec Snowboards is proud to announce the launch of the Artec Snowboards Design Contest 2008. After teaming up with the generous folks at Sony Playstation, the stakes are higher than ever for the 4th edition of this innovative competition.

Here’s the deal: they’re looking for artistic souls to take on their creative challenge and design a snowboard topsheet graphic that ties in with their progressive design philosophy and technology. History tells us the winning entry will need to be truly inspired and original, so be creative and unleash your imagination.

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Burton and Suzuki are not only teaming up for the Burton European Open 2008 and the Burton AM Tour 2007/08, they have also come up with a fantastic online design contest. The contest website is now live, offering budding designers the chance to design their own board and actually have it made. Not only that, the winning designer will also take home a brand new Suzuki Grand Vitara Freeride car in the design of their winning board graphics!

Taking part is easy: go to the Burton and Suzuki Freeride website and download the template for a board shape, then design your very own board and upload the file. The qualification is divided into 3 heats, and you can participate in all three (even with the same design):

• Heat 1: 15 November - 31 December 2007
• Heat 2: 1 January - 31 January 2008
• Heat 3: 1 February - 28 February 2008

In each heat, the Top 5 designs which have received the highest rating from other users win a Burton Goodie Bag and are qualified for the finals. Visit the site to learn more.

The Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers is now accepting entries statewide, nationwide and worldwide for the 2008 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, scheduled 4-5 April at the Collins Road Theatres, 1462 Twixt Town Road, Marion, Iowa. All entries must be received by 25 January. Entry fee discounts apply to entries received by 4 January.

All genres are welcome and there is no date-of-completion stipulation. Films are accepted from anywhere, but must meet the criteria of having an “Iowa connection.” Visit the site to learn more.

The opportunity to represent the best in international typographic design has arrived. Enter the Type Directors Club Competition, TDC54, where up and coming and established designers are showcased in one of the top design annuals in the world. The TDC competition can place you among the world’s preeminent graphic and type designers.

This year marks TDC’s fifty-fourth open Call for Entries in its international competition which recognizes excellence in the use of typography, calligraphy, handlettering and other letterforms. Winning works will be exhibited in six traveling shows and published in Typography 29, the hardbound, all-color competition annual designed by Philippe Apeloig.

Deadline is Friday, 4 January 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

On November 27 in Paris (15.30-16.30 CET), a panel of internationally renowned experts from the environmental, design, and technology communities, are speaking at the International Forum on Design and the Environment presented by Electrolux Design Lab 2007. The Forum aims to raise awareness about climate change and sustainable design.

The European Union has embarked on a plan to cut down its energy consumption by 20% by 2020 - and the use of household appliances has a key role to play in achieving this goal, which is why Electrolux is hosting this global event. All four experts have a different background and will explain what they believe is key to tackle climate change…
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The East End Film Festival aims to showcase a range of high quality new and contemporary films that explore the potential of cinema to cross cultural, artistic and political boundaries and that capture the experience of living and working in the most exciting artistic hub in Europe - London’s East End.

The submission deadline is 18th January 2008. Early entry is encouraged with all entries received before 13 December being entered into a prize draw. Entering your film before the early bird deadline does not guarantee acceptance. EEFF cannot accept films that arrive after this deadline (Only the 18 January deadline will be noted on this calendar). Visit the site to learn more.

Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel Show photography competition is searching for the nations (as in UK) best amateur travel photographer. Over the coming months leading up to the opening of the show they are asking you to scour your albums for just one image that captures the spirit of adventure travel. Anyone can enter; all you need is a keen eye, a dash of adventure and digital camera.

Only send photos taken personally by you, or your family, for non-professional and non-commercial purposes. They reserve the right to crop or re-size your image so that it fits the format of our web gallery but will not otherwise alter it. Please read their terms and conditions before submitting your photos.

The prize is a free place on ‘Spirit Of Cuba’, a learning holiday in Cuba in autumn 2008, at which the winner can develop their travel photography (and/or travel writing) with expert tutors on location. Over 7 days the winner will be visiting and practicing in Havana, Trinidad and Vinales - the three most photogenic locations in Cuba. Prize includes accommodation and tuition, but not flights. The winning image will also feature as part of the 2009 show advertising campaign.

Closing date for the competition is midnight on Friday 4th January 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Hey folks - here’s another view of a turkey for your Thanksgiving holiday. Actually, it’s Istanbul, Turkey.

I enjoy this holiday weekend as it allows me to catch up on overdue work while everyone’s out stuffing their faces. No interruptions, in other words. Nice. Too short.

But, this is a great time to get together with family and friends, and I hope you all have a great time. Just please don’t call me and tell me about it as I really do enjoy my solitude. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!

The Singapore Design Festival is a biennial platform that brings the best minds in the field of design from Singapore and around the world together to engage in a dynamic design dialogs. The Festival is not just a showcase of leading-edge design; it creates opportunities for networking and exchange of ideas, transforming Singapore into a vibrant and creative international design hub of activity from 28 November to 8 December 2007.

With contributions from more than 130 partners from different industries, the events range from major international presentations to Singaporean showcases to trade events, alongside award ceremonies, talks, workshops, product launches, open houses and designer parties.

All this is made possible by the fact that this city state is an increasingly emerging creative design hub with a dynamic pool of Singapore and international design talents and design-led companies. As the city where diverse cultures converge and multi-national businesses gather to trade thoughts and commerce, the Singapore Design Festival is fast becoming recognized as a “must-attend” event on the international design calendar.