Spark is the exciting new competition created to promote great design and designers. They invite everyone to participate - designers, art directors, architects, design firms, manufacturers, institutions, ad agencies, students and novices may enter and enjoy the Spark Design Awards.

Graphics, product, transportation and architecture are just a few of the many design categories accepted. If you or your company create great designs, don’t miss the opportunity to compete in this important event.

To accommodate the greatest possible range of designs and designers, and to lower the initial cost of entry, the SparkAwards are now configured as a “two-phase” competition, just like a sports playoff series. In Phase I, the entrant will upload an image of their work and short description to the Spark website. The Phase I fee is US$125.

The first phase (virtual jury) final deadline is August 1. An international jury will carefully review the entries in early August. Phase I entrants chosen by the Jury will then have the option to participate in Phase II, as a Spark “Challenger “candidate, with payment of a second fee of $250. Phase II deadline is September 1, 2008. Jurists will judge the actual, physical works of design, so you’ll need to ship your design to the Jury site by September 5. Visit the site to learn more.

The first competition of its kind to encourage unique concepts in mobile gaming from developers of all backgrounds and all levels, the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge seeks the best in groundbreaking ideas and game concepts from the brightest and most creative minds in gaming today.

Sponsored by Nokia Publishing, the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge invites developers to submit mobile gaming concepts to help drive mobile gaming worldwide to the next level of excitement and innovation, relying on the advanced features and functionalities of any Nokia N-Gage, Java or Symbian-based Series 40 or S60 device.

The three most innovative game concepts will be offered Nokia Publishing pre-production contracts, targeting publication of their winning concept on the corresponding Nokia device platform. In addition, the first winner will be awarded 40,000 Euros, the second 20,000 Euros and the third 10,000 Euros to enable the participant to further develop the concept.

Deadline for submissions is 20 August 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Upload your games and win $18,000 in cash and prizes in the XPoser Game Developer Contest 2008. This contest is open to independent game developers, development companies and gamers of all kinds. The contest’s categories are divided in a way that allows participants that have a bank of already developed, sponsored and published games to upload them and compete for 1 of 10 prizes awarded to the best non-exclusive game submissions, chosen by a certified panel of judges via very detailed criteria. In addition, a limited number of participants who upload 3 or more games will be sent a limited edition, 2 gigabyte XPOGames USB flash stick and will be automatically enrolled in the contest’s quantity category which is split into two phases.

There are other rules to abice by, so be sure to check out the Web site. Deadline is 10 August 2008 at 23:59 hours.

Zehnder America is excited about the fact that their products have been so well accepted by the design community for their high quality, innovation and functionality. For this reason, Zehnder is announcing the first Zehnder Design Contest. The contest is open to industry professionals who would like to showcase their talents and ideas through their entry of a completed bathroom, master bathroom, powder room, spa or mudroom. The project must demonstrate the practicality, versatility and functionality of a Zehnder towel radiator with regard to efficient heating and creation of a comfort zone in the home.

The contest is open to kitchen and bath designers, architects, interior designers, and custom builders. Each entrant must show the use of a Zehnder towel radiator in the project. First place winner walks away with $3,500. Entries must be postmarked no later than 15 August 2008. Download the PDF to learn about more prizes and rules and regulations.