Inspired by the passion for color and the natural love affair with the beauty of gemstones and innovation, ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements Passion Topaz genuine gemstone collection was created to bring color and an added touch of something special to design.

Passion Topaz and design innovation in color using Swarovski’s ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements genuine Passion Topaz® gemstones is the main focus of this competition. The designs will be used to inspire the use of their Passion Topaz assortment and stimulate the market through future insights of jewellery and bejewelled eyewear design. The submitted designs will not be produced in series, but Signity AG reserves the right to realize the winning designs as prototypes, include any and all design sketches in our communication tools and present them during various ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements Branding activities.

International designers and design enthusiasts are welcomed to participate in the competition. The minimum age for the participation is 18 years of age at the time of submission. Prospective entrants must first register and accept the competition conditions before submitting any of their designs. Groups are not allowed to participate in the competition. November 30th, 2008 is the last day for submission of designs to be taken into consideration for exhibition at Baselworld 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

Think of an idea for a DORITOS brand commercial. Not just any idea, but one worthy of being called the best of the Super Bowl. Maybe it’s an action-packed storya bout the first time you tried DORITOS brand Tortilla Chips. Maybe it reveals what life is like for the spices on the survace of the chip (that one is trippy). Make the video that would knock YOU out of your seat if you were watching the Super Bowl.

If you make it as one of five finalists, you’ll win $25,000 USD. Then, if America votes it as its favorite, your video will be aired as a DORITOS brand commercial during Super Bowl XLIII. You’ll also win a $1,000,000 USD bonus. This contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry.

Finalists may be asked to provide the original audio and video files used during production of the entry for broadcast purposes. This may include uncompressed QuickTime files, final audio mix and/or separate audio tracks for dialogue, music, and effects. These items are not mandatory to become a finalist. Deadline is 11:59:59 pm CT on 16 November 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Mediabistro.com has introduced a new event called UGCX: User Generated Content Conference & Expo, which will take place February 9-10 at the San Jose Convention Center. This event will bring together visionaries and innovators in content creation, platform creation, new media, and brand presence in this emerging field to interact through seminars, tradeshow exhibits, and networking.

The seminars will be held within a cohesive conference program to maximize the sharing of knowledge and expertise around user generated content. Seminars will be loaded with successful case studies and business models that are growing traffic and revenues to Web sites worldwide.

The Call for Papers for UGCX: User Generated Content Conference & Expo is officially open. Mediabistro.com welcomes you to submit session proposals on social content, photography, music and film and video until Monday, November 24. For information about the program and tips on submitting your ideas for sessions and workshops, please visit the site.

Participate in Optimalprint’s first annual print design contest for professional graphic artists and amateur designers. Enter the contest for a chance to showcase your winning print designs. This design competition is divided into separate divisions for professionals and amateurs. There will be 1 grand prize winner and up to 100 honourable mentions chosen from each division.

Contest categories include:

• Business card
• Invitation card
• Christmas card

Judges for this event include:

• Professor Dan Fern, Head of the School of Communications, Royal College of Art
• Susan Pandit, Dean of the School of Printing and Publishing, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London
• Henrik Müller-Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of Optimalprint.co.uk

Deadline is 14 November 2008 at noon. Visit the site to learn more.

The Earth Awards is a global search for future-crucial design solutions that will improve our collective social, cultural, economic and ecological quality of life. Submissions will be accepted in multiple categories; product design, architecture, fashion, food, alternative energy, and more.

Submissions must be achievable, scalable, practical, collaborative, inclusive, original and energy-reducing. All finalists will be flown to New York City for an Awards Ceremony Gala on December 8, 2008, where the first prize winner will be announced. The winner will receive a monetary prize, and all finalists will receive the opportunity to pitch their ideas to industry leaders including venture capitalists, industrialists, and Fortune 500 business leaders.

Deadline is 14 November 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Each year a distinguished jury will award a $100,000 prize to support the development and implementation of a strategy that has significant potential to solve humanity’s most pressing problems.

Winning the Buckminster Fuller Challenge will require more than a great stand-alone innovation. If for example, your solution emphasizes a new design, material, process, service, tool, technology, or any combination, it is essential that it be part of an integrated strategy dealing with key social, economic, environmental, and cultural issues.

Entries must present a bold, visionary, tangible initiative that is focused on a well-defined need of critical importance. They should be regionally specific yet globally applicable, and backed up by a solid plan and the capability to move the solution forward. They want the winning solution to be what Fuller called a ‘trimtab’ – a catalyst inserted into a failing system at the right time and place that accelerates the transition to an equitable and sustainable future.

You must be over age 18, able to submit the entry in English, have a current and valid ID, and be available to be contacted by phone or email at any point in the evaluation process. A discounted entry fee of $50 is available for students, academics (employees at a university or research institution), people entering on behalf of a registered non-profit, and financially contributing members of the Buckminster Fuller Institute. Deadline is 7 November 2008. Visit the site to learn more.