Cell phones have become a common sight in today’s world. Everyone from the very young to senior citizens use this electronic marvel to communicate, send text messages, and take pictures.

In 1983, the emergence of a truly portable cell phone cost the consumer $3,500 or the equivalent of $7,538 in 2009 dollars! Today, a cell phone can be free of charge with a the commitment of a one or two year contract with a wireless cell phone provider.

Cell phones have come a long way since 1983 and the quest for new innovative designs are a high priority for many cell phone manufactures. Fujitsu Limited is one of these companies and is announcing its Fujitsu Mobile Phone Design Award Contest. Professionals, amateurs, and students from graphic design schools, graphic design colleges, or other institutions of learning are eligible to enter this competition.

Fujitsu is running the event in partnership with the Japan Design Association, a non-profit organization to “help solve… [21^st century societal] problems with the power of design and to promote the building of a beautiful and emotionally rich cyclical society.”

There are two categories for this contest. The official website states:

• Practical Category: Mobile Phones for 2001

A chance to let your dreams blossom - we are looking for inspirational designs. Winning designs in this category may be commercialized.
Design requirements: the design must show that the mobile phone is keyboard equipped, operable with one hand, and utilizes an LCD screen of 3″ or larger.

• Dream Category: Mobile Phones of the Future

Futuristic mobile phone designs that reflect your free and uninhibited imagination - we are interested in futuristic designs illustrating cutting-edge technologies as well as interface designs that open up new ways of use, which in turn can inspire new design ideas for Fujitsu’s line of mobile phones.

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.

Welcome to the Spark 2009 Competition, Designers! The Spark Awards is the exciting new competition created to promote great design and designers and encourage people to explore their creativity. Everyone is invited to participate - designers, art directors, architects, design firms, manufacturers, institutions, ad agencies, students and non-professionals may enter, interact and enjoy Sparking.

Graphics, product design, 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 configured as a “two-phase” competition, just like a sports playoff series. In Phase I, entrants upload 3 images of their work and short mission statement to the Spark website.
The Jury reviews the work and selects candidates to compete in Phase II. (Last year the entries were of a very high caliber and most went on to Challenger status.)

There is a double pricing structure for entrants. The Phase I fee is $125 for professionals, $75 for design students. The “Challenger Candidates” selected by the jury have the option to enter the Phase II competition, which has a fee of $250 (students/novices- free in Phase II. Status must be verifiable). Upon payment, this group automatically places in our online show and qualifies for review by the live Jury. Winners of Phase II are awarded either a prestigious Bronze Spark, Silver Spark, Gold Spark or the ultimate Spark! Award.

Late Deadline is Midnight, PST, September 11, 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

i-want-a-print announces the i-want-a-print Emerging Talent Award devoted to promoting the work of art students and/or recent graduates making the transition from the academic environment to professional careers. Finalists will have the opportunity to sell museum-quality limited edition prints of their works with the soon-to-be-launched i-want-a-student-print website, which will handle the production and sales of these editions.

Artists will enjoy profits of up to 9,600 Euros and a resulting exposure. One winner will receive a 1,000 Euros cash award as down payment on future sales. Application is free and easy to follow through with the online submission page. Results will be published mid-June, with the launch of the i-want-a-student-print website.

Deadline for submissions is 15 May 2009. The competition is open to students/emerging talents over 18 years old. Visit the site to learn more.

Since 2000, the New York City Section of the IES has invited students from New York City Art and Design schools to participate in a city wide design competition. The competition empowers students to explore light as an art form, demonstrate light as a stimulus, and prove light as a valuable medium.

Every year, students in lighting, architecture, interior design, art, product design, photography and electrical engineering programs have submitted projects, resulting in a diverse showcase of ideas and interpretations on a single theme. This year’s challenge is to select a sound and develop an abstract lighting composition, constructed of your choice of materials, to convey to the observer the unique characteristics of your selection. All projects must have a title, incorporate at least one electric light source, and be easily transportable in a NYC cab. Although this project is about sound, it cannot contain actual audio elements, your sound must be conveyed visually.

Registration deadline is 23 February 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

The “Third Maier S. Coop. Design Competition,” an international competition for the design of vehicle interiors organised by the company Maier S. Coop with the collaboration of Mondragon, the Innovation and Financial Promotion Department of the Bizkaia Regional Government and Eide (the Basque Association of Industrial Designers), has become a major Design Competition, with substantial prize money and extensive media coverage.

The Competition Organizing Committee encourages designers, engineers, students, amateurs and professionals alike, to take part in this year’s competition, presenting their creative and innovative proposals for vehicle interiors.

The aim of the competition is to award prizes for projects consisting of ideas for new products, focusing on vehicle interiors, more specifically for doors, with innovations affecting their opening and closing lifetime and other uses. These new product ideas should be geared to facilitating user operation, simplifying the currently-existing systems, including new features, improving driver and passenger safety, modernizing the appearance of the vehicle interior using new decoration techniques or including environmental improvements.

There are two prizes: First Prize: Award and 6000 Euros; Second Prize: Award and 3000 Euros. Any natural person or legal entity may take part in the competition. The deadline for presentation of Projects is 30 April 2009. Visit the site to learn more