You light up my life…
In this particular case we are not referring to a song but how public lighting can be improved upon and used in more innovative ways.

The 2010-2011 Concept Lumière Urbaine (CLU) contest sponsor seeks to:

“…give new meaning to public lighting and provoke the emergence of sensitivity to the need of mankind to benefit from the available light, to share and take ownership.

“The boundary between street lighting and the user can disappear to become the service point of luminous energy to the whole community. Public lighting is a response to the needs of human beings, and your solutions will be the answer.”

What’s your idea?
If you have a concept that can transform the idea of what public lighting can mean and do then this contest is for you.

The contest theme is “Light for Humanity.” There are several key points that you should consider when designing your lighting creations.

According to the contest guidelines your entry should address how public lighting can serve as the following:

* A central gathering point
* A source and connection accessible to the entire community
* A realization that supports the vitality of social exchange
* A viable alternative to the use of other fuels (gasoline, wood, etc.).
* An economical design with regard to materials and components ….(3R), that is also aesthetically and culturally meaningful

General contest guidelines

* Anyone who is connected to or is interested in the industry of exterior ….lighting is eligible to enter
* If you are entering as part of a design firm you must have less than 5 ….years experience
* If you are entering as part of a team your firm must not have more ….than 5 employees

The rules state that your product/lighting submission may incorporate the following subject matter:

* Layout of public exterior spaces
* Objects or luminous systems for these spaces
* Advancement of the general knowledge concerning exterior lighting
* Development of the collective consciousness pertaining to a quality exterior lighting

Judging and Prizes
Entries will be judged according to the merits of each entry’s excellence in aesthetics, technology, environmental solutions, and theoretical application.

The following awards will be given to the winners:

* First Prize: $2,500 or a 12 weeks training course with the ….industrial design and engineering teams of Philips Lumec.
* Second Prize: $1,500
* Third Prize: $1,000

Contest links and other information
The following links provide additional contest details:

Official website
Full contest guidelines and rules
Online registration form

The deadline for entries is May 2, 2011. This contest is free to enter.

Illuminate yourself with graphic design school classes
Graphic design college can be the starting point of a career in interior and exterior design. You will learn the principles of using colors effectively, how to illustrate and make your ideas come to life, and the importance of artistic interpretation and technique.

If you are a graphic designer or involved in city planning, continued education classes are available at your graphic design school to help in the areas of design work.

If you are planning to attend a graphic design college, speak to your school counselor about the various career training options available to you.

Mistakes on Purpose?
The principles you learn in graphic design school are meant to teach you the basics of design, composition and artistic technique.

Once you know the rules you can sometimes break them for effect.

In this article, we’ll go over a few errors. Can you tell if they were done on purpose or are they real mistakes? (Click on the images to see the larger versions.)

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What’s wrong with this picture?
Nicki Minaj is a successful hip hop singer who likes to reveal her personal experiences in the song lyrics she writes. Her most recent album, Pink Friday, has her posing as a Barbie doll.

Upon the release of the album many fans and non-fans remarked that the doll’s legs were highly disproportional to the rest of its body and that the arms seemed to be missing as well.

Question: Is this design by mistake or on purpose? (Make your decision before looking at the answer.)

Answer: On purpose

According to GL Wood, the photographer who shot the image, the effect of distortion was used to make a statement about the “perfect” Barbie image and lifestyle.

“[Nicki] wanted to rip [the doll's] arms off to really do the whole Barbie theme; [it's] like when little girls trash their dolls. She wanted to look like one of those broken Barbies.

“There [are] people who are going to get it and not get it, but that’s the point. There [are] few if any female artists now who are pushing the envelope. And that’s far from a bad thing.”
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The image is shocking and attention grabbing and many fans say that they expected no less from Nicki Minaj.

Prada goes negative
Prada is a well-known brand among fashionistas. But just how do you publicize the latest fashion line produced by this company? Do you use bright colors or do you use close-ups of the models?

In this ad, Prada decides to go starkly minimalist.

Question: Is this a design mistake or done on purpose?

Answer: On purpose

As a photographer, art director or graphic designer the very idea of not filling in blank space is hard to overcome. However, the concept of negative space can be very effective in emphasizing an idea or product.

In this Prada advertisement the design draws you to the two biggest ideas of the image: Prada and the clothes. Nothing distracts you from these two points.

But one thing does seem to surface as a mistake; the model could have been angled slightly more to the right in order to show her arm instead of an empty shoulder sleeve.

We know — picky, picky, picky.

Graphic design school and the principles of graphic design
Beethoven produced some of the most beautiful classical music ever composed. But music students frequently point out “mistakes” in his harmony such as recurring parallel fifths.

But as one music teacher said, “You need to know the rules before you break them. He knew he was breaking the rules.”

Graphic design college helps you to be proficient in proper layout, design and technique. You’ll also understand that sometimes breaking the rules can be of benefit in designing your graphics.

Speak to a graphic design school representative to see what courses can help you in your design skills.

Next Time…
We’ll take a close look at fashion advertisements and see how too much or too little Photoshopping can hurt a design.

Build an amazing building or room in 3D
Have you ever seen a particularly striking house design or building? Undoubtedly you marveled and admired the structure and its beauty.

As a graphic artist or student of architecture, you’ve probably doodled a few landscapes or buildings for fun.

In the YafaRay Amazing Architecture Contest you can give your design talents a go at creating an architectural design that will grab the contest judge’s attention and a possible chance at winning the competition.

What is YafaRay?
We know that it isn’t a science fiction weapon that destroys Yafas. YafaRay is an open-source raytracing engine that allows users to create realistic 3D scenes and images.

YafaRay interacts with other host programs such as Blender 3D, a free 3D graphics suite.

What the contest is about
The YafaRay Amazing Architecture Contest wants entries that are imaginative, outside the box, and visually appealing. Your creations do not have to be viable architectural structures. The main idea of this contest is to be creative.

The sponsor of this contest states:

“…your architectural work does not need to be driven by practical considerations or architectural conventions, nor it needs to be structurally viable; the contest is about form for form’s sake.

“Your work might be intended for this planet and age, or for another planet, time and culture. It can be as well inspired by a novel or comic.”

Rendered images may be either of indoor or outdoor scenes. Several perspectives or treatments of an idea are allowed. Special emphasis should be centered on how light interacts with your architectural forms and the materials used.

The winner will be offered up to $150 in CG training material at any online retailer and, of course, bragging rights.

General rules for submissions
To enter your submissions you must open a progress thread in the contest forum. Your image progress should be posted on your forum thread. The final image in all submitted threads will be considered the final one for judging.

* All images must be rendered with YafaRay.
* Final rendered images may consist of a single render or a composite of ….different rendered layers.
* Photographs may be used as the image’s background as long ….as.the.main subject is rendered in YafaRay.
* Final images must be a minimum of 2000-by-2000 pixels.
* All images must be saved as a PNG file or any other lossless format.

Contest links and information
The deadline for this contest is February 28, 2011. This competition is free and has no entry fees.

The following links provide more details about the contest:

YafaRay official website
Frequently asked questions
Contest rules
Contest forum registration
YafaRay login site (You must be registered to login.)
YafaRay free download
Blender 3D graphic suite (Free Download)

They’ve Got You Covered
The Tx Style Design Challenge, sponsored by Mannington Commercial, wants design entries from interior designers and architects for its new carpet products.

Six finalists will be selected by a panel of judges. Entries will be evaluated upon creativity, aesthetics, manufacturability and public reaction to the design.

What to Submit
All entries must be in digital format. According to the contest rules, the sponsors would like to see:

* A sketch or graphic design illustrating a carpet that you would like Mannington Commercial to consider for a new product line. A maximum of five (5) concepts can be submitted.

* An “Inspiration Board” or other type of graphic illustration(s) that serves as your creative stimulus for the proposed carpet design. Examples include images or samples from fashion, art, culture, nature, etc.

* Optional: Images or renderings of any product you designed prior to the start of this competition. ….The product can be purely conceptual, in development or fully realized/produced. It does not ….necessarily have to be a flooring product.

Prizes
Finalists (6) — Each of the six finalists will receive $3,000, be featured in a national advertising campaign, plus a trip to NeoCon 2011.

Grand Prize Winners (2) - Each Grand Prize winner will receive a full floor covering collection of their design, $6,000, and a trip to the Maison & Objet show in Paris, France.

Other Information and Contest Links
In order to be eligible for this contest you must be a practicing interior designer or architect. Students are not eligible.

Maximum file size for uploaded images is 1024KB. Artwork should be in jpg format.

All entries must be uploaded. No mailed submissions will be accepted for this contest. You must register to participate in this competition. The deadline for this contest is February 16, 2011.

There are no entry fees for this contest.

The following links provide more contest details:

Official Contest Website
Contest Overview Information
Terms and Conditions
Registration Form

Design a Resource Responsible Apartment
In today’s modern society individuals use an immense amount of energy and resources to just live out their daily lives.

Some say that the wave of the future is to live more responsibly by curbing our overall impact on the environment.

The Jovoto Life Edited Product Design Contest wants designers to take up the challenge of creating the apartment of the future, which will substantially be more energy/resource efficient and present a smaller physical footprint.
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The sponsor states:
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With some design and technology magic, even small space can allow for almost anything - so we’re asking you to redesign a small space thinking about these core ideas:

* Transforming space - use one space for work, play, sleep, guests
* Digitize everything - photos, books, music
* From ownership to access - think car-sharing instead of owning, pay-per-view instead of ….downloading, smart space-sharing and subletting
* Only the essentials - cut down on extraneous stuff, leaving only what’s really necessary

Contest Details
The apartment design must allow the apartment dweller to work, cook, and entertain.
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According to the contest guidelines, other considerations for your design should include:

* Comfortable lounging option for 8 people
* Space for 2 guests with some visual and ideally auditory ….privacy
* Home office
* Work area with space for a rolling tool chest
* Hideable kitchen

Judging Criteria
Entries will be critiqued according to the following standards by a jury panel and community feedback:

* Does the design meet the contest requirements?
* Is the design feasible and can it be produced in with a ….reasonable budget?
* Will the design be attractive enough for people to consider ….from an economic perspective?
* Will the design look good in 25 years? Will it influence people to “leave large and love little?”

Prizes and Awards
Winners in all the various categories win cash awards, products and prizes. The total value amount that will be distributed is $70,000.

Contest Links and Other Information
Follow these links for important contest resources and details.

Downloadable Contest Resources:
AutoCAD Plans
Google SketchUp Apartment Model
Apartment Plans as PNG

Contest Information:
Complete Rules and Submission Guidelines
Contest Registration Site

The deadline for submissions is January 17, 2011. There is no entry fee required to participate in this competition.

Design for the Future
The Roca International Design Contest: Jump the Gap, is seeking design entries which depict futuristic concepts and inventive designs related to bathroom products, new use of interior spaces and/or functions.

Your concept may not be possible to produce now, but the ideas may be presented in a manner that assumes technology and product manufacturing will catch up to your future design.

The design principles learned in graphic design school can definitely help in coming up with new and fresh ideas related to interior design, space utilization, and product development.

The sponsor of the contest states:

“Jump the gap is a creative contest proposal that brings new and innovative concepts to the bathroom, understanding innovation as the anticipation of users’ new desires and needs, as well as (why not?) the transformation of dreams and desires into reality.

“…a tomorrow when the limitations of today will not apply and when new needs, architecture, technologies and products will emerge which will help us to improve people’s lives by bringing them more well-being, hygiene and comfort.”

Basic Contest Guidelines
The contest is open to any resident of any country who is 34 years of age or younger. Applicants may be designers, architects or students enrolled in these fields.

Submitted entries may be from individuals or a group of two people. Entries are limited to one entry per person or group (two people).

Artwork must not contain any details or information that can identify the authors of the project such as signatures, names, logos, etc. All texts that accompany the designs must be in the English language.

* You may submit up to 4 files in jpg format.
* Maximum file size is 1500kb. Minimum file size is 500kb.
* High resolution images may be requested if your entry wins.
* A description of your project must be included with your ….artwork. (3,000 characters max.)
* Optional videos/animations demonstrating your project are …. should be in FLV format. File size should be ….no bigger than 10MB.
* Finalists will be required to verify their professional or ….student status by sending in a copy of their degree, diploma or proof of the school’s certification.

Prizes
One grand prize winner will be awarded €5,000 (6,655 USD). The winner or winners will be offered the opportunity to collaborate with the Roca Design Department in manufacturing a possible full-sized model for presentation at the 100% Design 2011 London event.

An exclusive rights purchase offer will be made available to the winner of the contest.

Contest Links and Additional Information
Specific contest information can be found by following these links:

Official Contest Rules and Regulations
Contest Registration Page

The deadline for submissions is April 29, 2011. This contest requires no entry fee.