Calling all web designers and web developers - it’s time to show how much you <3 Your Web, and MIX09 is the place to do it! At MIX, you’ll get access to the tools, knowledge, and vision to create the next generation of UX, applications, and web design. You’ll also have an opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow designers and developers (representing some of the world’s top sites and interactive agencies) and network with Microsoft’s thought-leaders in the web space.

Join the conversation, help to influence the future of the Web, take your skills to the next level and compete, vote and win a trip to MIX09 by competing in the MIX 10K Challenge.

The Challenge asks: What could you create for the Web if you only had 10 kilobytes of code? It’s time to exercise your minimalist creativity and get back to basics – back to optimizing every little byte like your life depended on it. One winner will receive a pass to MIX09, hotel accommodations and a Visa gift card. Other great prizes are to be announced. Official entry requirements, procedures, rules and restrictions coming in November, so you might want to bookmark this page.

Pre-Event Workshops will be held March 17, 2009 and the conference is on March 18 - 20, 2009. Both events will be held at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit the site to learn more and to register.

Artec Snowboards is proud to announce the launch of the 2009 Artec Snowboards Design Contest. They are teaming up with the generous folks at Sony Playstation again this year, and the stakes are as high as ever for the 5th 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.

Download a blueprint design template and get to work. After finish the design you simply upload it online with your personal data. Carefully read the blueprint design guidelines to ensure you meet their specifications. There are no limits to how many graphics you can upload.

The deadline for all graphic submissions is midnight on 5 January 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition offers high school students interested in Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing & Merchandising or Retail Management an opportunity to win a full tuition scholarship to study at one of The Art Institutes schools.

Open to high school seniors across North America, The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition was created to encourage and reward young fashion design and fashion marketing, merchandising and retail management talent at the high school level.

The competition consists of two categories: Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing; Merchandising and Retail Management. The grand prize in each category includes a full tuition scholarship to The Art Institutes school location with a fashion program at which the student entered the competition.

In addition to a full tuition scholarship, each grand prize winning student receives an all-expense-paid trip to New York City for Fashion Week in February 2009 and a “meet and greet” at Seventeen magazine’s offices.

Deadline for entries into the competition is 21 November 2008, so hurry! Visit the site to learn more.

Metro (Portland, Oregon) is accepting grant applications for projects that connect citizens to their watershed through hands-on restoration activities and environmental education. Metro’s restoration and enhancement grants support individual, non-profit and government sponsored restoration, enhancement and education and efforts in regional watersheds. These grassroots, community-minded projects create new connections and improvements to neighborhoods, natural areas, backyards and beyond.

To date, Metro has awarded $1.23 million to support 42 nonprofit community groups, schools, businesses and local government agencies responsible for 64 projects in the region. Because some recipients were required to have matching funds, the total value of the grants awarded thus far is $4.6 million and counting. This program engages citizens of all ages and backgrounds in the restoration and enhancement of their natural surroundings and helps keep nature in all our communities for this generation and those to come.

Deadline for pre-application is 7 January, 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

BOM is here to help by bringing you the Design Not Drama Contest where you can show the world how you keep the drama on the down low in your relationships! Express how you dial down the drama by designing a t-shirt that reflects the BOM = Boss of Me themes. Use the Entry Editor or download a t-shirt template, create your Design Not Drama statement either as a slogan or picture and submit to win a $1000 Apple Gift Card, 20 t-shirt copies of your design plus have your entry posted on BOM411.com.

This contest is open to California residents aged 15-19. The grand prize winner, based on most creative, best slogan and best reflection of theme, will receive a $1,000 Apple® Gift Card, 20 copies of his or her t-shirt and the design featured on the BOM411.com website. Prizes will also be given away for the runner-up and 4 most viral winners.

Deadline is 5 December 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Surface Fabrication magazine and Surface Fabrication & Design Expo have teamed up once again for the Surface Fabrication Achievement in Design Contest. This design contest has been created to provide fabricators with a platform to showcase their skills. Held in conjunction with Surface Fabrication & Design Expo, the Surface Fabrication Achievement in Design Contest will be held on February 19-21, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, FL.

aTke advantage of this unique opportunity to gain exposure and market your talents to the surface industry. Application to Compete form & $25 entry fee due is 22 December 2008. Visit the site for details.