The purpose of the Portfolio Prize (sponsored by Canon) is to identify trends in contemporary photography and specific artists whom we can help by bringing their work to a wider audience. In choosing the first-prize winner and runners-up, the Aperture Foundation is looking for work that is fresh and that hasn’t been widely seen in major publications or exhibition venues.

First prize is $2,500. The first-prize winner and runners-up are featured on Aperture’s website for approximately one year. Winners are also announced in the foundation’s e-newsletter, which reaches thousands of subscribers in the photography community. The entry period for the 2008 Aperture Portfolio Prize ends Friday, 11 July 2008. For specifics on how to enter, visit the site.

The Architecture Firm Award is the highest honor that The American Institute of Architects can bestow on an architecture firm for consistently producing distinguished architecture. It is conferred by the Board of Directors. Any firm or successor firms, whether an individual or an organization of architects, in which the continuing collaboration among individuals of the firm has been the principal force in consistently producing distinguished architecture for a period of at least 10 years, is eligible for the Architecture Firm Award. While serving on the Board of Directors, Board members and their firms are ineligible to be nominated for this award. No more than one such award shall be made in any year.

Nomination binders must be received no later than July 11, 2008. This date is firm and no exceptions will be made. Visit the site to learn more.

Incheon Metropolitan City, the Host city of Asian Games 2014 and Global Fair and Festival 2009 Incheon, Korea invites designers around the world to participate in the Incheon International Design Competition as part of the Incheon International Design Fair 2008.

Primary submissions are in the Product, Package, and Environment Design Fields, with a designline of Friday, 4 July 2008 at 18:00 KST. Visit the site to learn more.

CUP is seeking designers for the next issues of Making Policy Public. They are looking for designers who are interested in using communication design to illuminate pressing issues of our day. Designers chosen through the juried submission process will receive full attribution for their work, an honorarium of $1000, and publicity through CUP. CUP will manage the design process and provide design support as needed.

Making Policy Public uses innovative graphic design to explore and explain public policy. Each publication is the product of a commissioned collaboration between a designer and an advocate. This series aims to make information on public policy truly public: accessible, meaningful, and shared. Designers can engage social issues without sacrificing experimentation.

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createurope: THE FASHION ACADEMY AWARD aims to demonstrate the vitality of the European fashion scene by way of a competition that invites young fashion designers at the beginning of their careers from all over Europe. It intends to help them get their feet off the ground, start their own business and unite them with other young colleagues from European countries in the form of intercultural dialogue. At the same time, the competition links the many European educational facilities in the fashion world and hereby fosters the exchange of faculty and students.

The young creative prize winners will be determined in two separate phases. In the first phase candidates from the participating countries will be chosen to present themselves in the second phase to a prominent international selection committee. The closing event will take place at the end of October in Berlin offering a platform for publicity.

Deadline for postmarked items is 30 June 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

The 2008 Australian Packaging Awards is organized under the patronage of the Packaging Council of Australia. The Australian Packaging Awards can provide avenues for growth for companies who achieve success at the Awards. The Australian Packaging Awards have helped past winners to attract new clients, reward employees, boost their company profile within the industry and help draw the best talent to their organisation.

With 11 categories to choose from, plus the Best of Show, there are many opportunities for success. The 2008 PCA Awards Presentation Dinner will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Melbourne on Thursday, 9th October 2008. Following the presentation night, photos and details of all winning entries will be featured on the Packaging Council of Australia website www.pca.org.au.

Deadline for entries is 20 June 2008. Visit the site to learn more.