Have you always dreamt of being a famous fashion designer? Now’s your chance to show the UAE your talent. The Bride Show Abu Dhabi is launching the capital’s first Abaya Design Competition; an exciting and challenging design contest open to all women in the UAE.

The final designs will be presented on the catwalk by professional models on the final day of The Bride Show Abu Dhabi, which takes place from 5-8 February 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Thousands of people will see the designs and visitors will have the chance to vote for their favorite creation.

Each participant must submit their final creation to the organizer’s office at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on the 4th February 2008 by 11:00 am. Failure to adhere to the above deadline will result in disqualification. Visit the site to learn more.

Promosedia invites designers to submit indoor chair designs for its Promosedia Intl. Design Competition–Caiazza Memorial Challenge. Entries will be accepted from architects, designers and students under the age of 40.

Competitors may submit a single design that is unpublished, original and technically feasible. The design must consider ergonomics, function, materials and the requirements for mass production, as well as incorporate wood. Designs for chaise longues, divans, stools, pouffes and other types of seating will not be accepted. All entries must be submitted on a CD to Promosedia by 31 March 2008. Visit the site at www.promosedia.it to learn more.

Via: FurnitureStyle

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and its Regional Affiliates are reaching out to schools across the nation to identify America’s most accomplished teen artists and writers. More than 75,000 students will accept the challenge to present their best creative work for review by artistic and literary professionals. More than 30,000 teens will be recognized regionally and approximately 1,000 will go on to earn national awards.

Many of these young artists and writers will have their work exhibited, published, and presented to a national audience by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and more than $1.5 million dollars in scholarships will be made available to high school seniors who receive national recognition. The Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, a consortium of leading art and design colleges in the U.S., recognizes The Scholastic Art Awards program of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers as an appropriate and effective way for students interested in art and design to develop successful portfolios for college admission.

Learn more about The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and how to submit your work (or tell a talented teen you know about this contest). Check out the virtual gallery of the nationally-recognized work from 2007.

Next Generation Awareness Foundation (”NGAF”) seeks notable films and participants for its 2008 Urban Film Series programs. Urban Film Series is comprised of several highly-acclaimed film-related programs that enhance awareness and provide exposure of the arts, independent cinema, media, and the motion picture industry to under-served communities across America.

Or be a part of NGAF’s historic programs! Be a volunteer, speaker, vendor affiliate, sponsor, poet or author. Submit your film or your proposal to bring one of the Series to your area. Sign-up and get information so you can pass the word to all relevant sources, persons and organizations.

Deadlines are as follows (All will be noted on calendar):

• 5th Annual Black History Month Film & Discussion Series ~ January 1st
• Black Docs Film Series ~ February 25th
• Urban Film & Discussion Series ~ April 1st
• Urban Film Series Tour ~ March 1st; June 1st
• Children’s Film & Education Festival ~ June 1st
• Health and Wellness Film Festival ~ September 1st
• Exclusive Screenings and Marketing Assistance ~ Year-Round

Read the rest of this entry »

The NFC Forum (www.nfc-forum.org), a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, today announced a call for entries for Touching the Future: NFC Forum Global Competition. In the competition, developers in a commercial track vie for the honor of having their solutions named “The Best NFC Service of the Year 2008,” while a research track recognizes “The Most Innovative NFC Research Project of the Year 2008.”

Focusing on the theme “Innovation at Your Fingertips,” the competition is intended to promote the development and deployment of innovative and exemplary NFC services. Entries will be judged on their innovation, commercial potential and usability, as well as quality of design and implementation. The competition’s Organizing Committee is now accepting submissions; all final proposals must be received by 15 February 2008. Twenty finalists will be judged on 29 April 2008 at the NFC Developers Summit, held in Monaco during the WIMA event (www.wima.mc). The winners will be selected by a jury composed of professionals and experts from sponsoring companies. Entry fees are $150 per submission for commercial entrants, and $50 per submission for research entrants. Entry forms and competition details are available now from www.nfc-forum.org/competition.

At Right: Last year’s winner, Jason Culler. Read more about Jason at simplehuman.

The simple solutions design competition encourages creative problem-solving among students for everyday household products through product design. Students at all NASAD-accredited schools are invited to design a new and innovative design, technology, or concept for making household chores easier and more intuitive. The design improvement can be applied to any basic household task, whether it’s organizing clutter or washing the dishes. The design can be completely original or an improvement upon any part of a task.

Entries will be judged by a jury consisting of Frank Yang, simplehuman CEO, and other design leaders, educators and media professionals. First Prize - $5,000 scholarship; second Prize - $500 simplehuman gift certificate; third Prize - $250 simplehuman gift certificate. Deadline is 29 February 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Make Your Mark in Fashion is setting you the challenge of creating a new range for an established, sustainable fashion label. Choose from a selection of leading sustainable fashion businesses and come up with a proposal for a sustainable fashion range that you feel will complement and enhance the existing business.

This is an exciting challenge for UK residents from ages 14 to 30. Applicants will work as teams from 3-6 people, and the work will be accomplished in stages with various prizes along the way. The last three winning teams will work in conjunction with their business of choice to create samples from their range to be showcased on the catwalk at OnlOff www.thedoll.org/onoff/ in London Fashion Week September 2008.

Deadline for registration is 5pm on 31 January 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Via: The Urban Shop

On 1 February 2008 in New York City industry leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, and designers will gather to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. Greener Gadgets is a one day conference featuring key representatives from some of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world, innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups focused on renewable energy, and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech.

The Greener Gadgets conference will showcase revolutionary design and tech innovations that will shape the future of the consumer electronics and change your world… for the better. For more information, visit the site.

The results are in for AmericanStyle magazine’s 2008 Top 10 Fairs & Festivals readers’ poll. Now in its fourth year, the annual readers’ poll has become a coveted award by the nation’s top art events.

The 2008 Top 10 Art Fairs & Festivals are:

1. Paradise City Arts Festivals (Northampton, Mass.; Marlborough, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.)
2. Scottsdale Arts Festival (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
3. Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival (Lancaster, Pa.)
4. Ann Arbor Art Fairs (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
5. The American Craft Shows (Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Charlotte, N.C.; San Francisco, Calif.; Sarasota, Fla.; St. Paul, Minn.)
6. Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands (Asheville, N.C.)
7. Fiesta Arts Fair (San Antonio, Texas)
8. La Quinta Arts Festival (La Quinta, Calif.)
9. Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College (Midway, Ky.)
10. Des Moines Arts Festival (Des Moines, Iowa)

Ballots appeared in the August and October 2007 issues and on http://www.AmericanStyle.com. A full write-up on each event will be available online starting December 14 and in the February 2008 issue of AmericanStyle, which hits newsstands December 18, 2007.

The issue also features AmericanStyle’s Essential Guide to
Fairs & Festivals, a month-by-month planning calendar of
some of the country’s most prestigious craft events.

AmericanStyle magazine is the nation’s premier arts lifestyle magazine for art collectors, enthusiasts and travelers. Published bi-monthly, AmericanStyle can be found online at http://www.AmericanStyle.com and on newsstands nationwide. AmericanStyle was named Baltimore’s Best Niche
Magazine by Baltimore magazine in 2003.

I normally don’t focus in on one state for a contest entry, but this one is unusual. 38 Studios (www.38studios.com), a pioneering entertainment company dedicated to delivering a broad spectrum of entertainment products, today announced the 1st Annual Massachusetts Game Challenge (MGC). The contest, open to students studying game design at Massachusetts-area universities, invites the region’s upcoming talent to design a video game.

The unusual part of this contest is that Boston Red Sox pitcher, Curt Schilling, is the owner of 38 Studios. He challenges students, who must establish teams of no less than two and no more than three eligible members. Each team is strongly encouraged to contain members of varied disciplines of study such as engineering, art, and marketing.

The mission? Build a playable video game featuring the 38 Studios mascot and his alter ego, Mean Munch, as well as create additional characters for Munch’s “posse.” Top prize is $3,000 to each team member on the winning team. Deadline is 18 February 2008. Visit the site to learn more.