If you think you’ve got a bright idea for using LED lights in an interesting and novel way, the LED Emotionalize Your Light Contest wants your entry.

The competition is sponsored by Osram, a manufacturer of cutting edge technology in products related to lighting for home, business, and personal applications. Osram wants ideas that provide emotional LED solutions. Osram defines this as:

“…a special form of LED illumination designs which create an atmosphere that not only positively affects our wellbeing but also gives rise to moods and emotions…In turn, this energizing promotes health and wellness.”

Some recent entries have emphasized LED lighting for large scale use such as window and room lighting while others have gone the portable route with small devices that generate pleasant lighting patterns and colors.

The sky is the limit for your ideas and concepts. Entries do not have to be necessarily assembled or working, but can be conceptual in scope.

To send in your entry, click here to go to the registration website. The contest is conducted in two phases. Winning entries are selected in the first round by the judges and are critiqued on the quality, creativity, originality, and their feasibility in regards to following contest rules and parameters.

The following steps must be followed in submitting ideas for this contest:

1. Work out your idea for new LED light solutions
2. Upload your design and describe your idea
3. Add emotion tags and pictures
4. Upload additional attachments
5. Submit your idea

Rules and guidelines for the LED Emotionalize Contest can be found by clicking here. Cash prizes are awarded for first place, second place, and third place totaling 5,000 Euros ($7,076).

The deadline for phase one entries is June 25, 2009.

The Photography.Book.Now competition is open to all photographers 18 years or older. If you have a photography book assembled of your work, or are in the midst of putting one together, there are three categories available for you to enter: fine arts, editorial, and commercial.

You may enter as many times in as many categories as you wish. The entry fee for each submission is $35. Photo curators, photo editors, publishers, and world-respected photographers take the duties of judging the entries. The deadline for contest entries is July 16,2009.

Submissions can be either hard copy or sent in electronically to the Blurb Inc. website. Click here to see the details.

At the conclusion of the contest, the grand prizewinner, top category winners, and honorable mentions will be acknowledged and honored at the Photography.Book.Now evening awards in New York. Everyone is welcome to attend the gala event. The meet-up is an excellent opportunity to meet industry leaders, contest jurors, and show off your photo book.

Other meet-ups are scheduled for San Francisco, Chicago, and London. More information about these events will be updated on the blurb.com website.

The awards for this contest are:

Grand Prize

$25,000

Category Winner

Ultimate Review Package Personal Portfolio Review with a Judge in Your Category Canon Camera

First Runner-Up

Photographic Experience Package Admission to Center’s Review LA Virgin America Airline Ticket B&H Photo Gift Card

Second Runner-Up

Professional Equipment Package Wacom Intuos4 Professional Pen Tablet X-Rite i1 Display LT Colorimeter Induro Carbon Fiber Tripod & Head Tenba Shootout Medium Backpack

People’s Choice Award

Maine Media Workshop Scholarship Package Three prizes will be presented - one for each of the competition’s three categories.

Appleton Coated announces its U360 Competition for 2010 celebrating “Print with Purpose.”

Celebrating the vital role print plays in the marketing mix, Appleton Coated launches the U360 competition for 2010. The contest calls for entries that embrace all-around excellence in communication, design and execution and demonstrate the power of “Print with Purpose.”

“Today’s business climate challenges print to look beautiful and to communicate for results and to deliver in a way that builds strong brands,” explains Phil Cavalier, vice president of marketing for Appleton Coated.

“U360 reflects that the judging will take on a more holistic assessment of the project - from concept and writing, imagery and design, and finally quality of print and bindery execution.”

The U360 competition evolved from Appleton Coated’s UBJ competition, formally known as U B the Judge. “Our new competition will move from an event-based, peer-judging platform to review by a North American panel of creative, communication, and print professionals,” adds Cavalier.

Submissions must be printed all, or in part, on Utopia and/or Curious Collection papers, accompanied by a completed entry form (that can be accessed by clicking here), produced in 2009, and postmarked no later than Dec. 11, 2009.

All winners will be featured in a showbook, which will be distributed throughout North America, showcased on the Appleton Coated website, and featured in other marketing materials.

Previously, five Platinum and five Gold award winners were selected from five geographies. In 2010, U360 winners will represent nominations from clients, designers, printers, merchants and other representatives within the entire North American marketplace.

Appleton Coated is a manufacturer of high-end coated papers under the Utopia brand name. These papers are used in fine art books, corporate communications brochures, and marketing campaigns.