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The Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) is a graphic design competition and computer application competition that seeks the best and the brightest student talent in the fields of graphic design, illustration, photography, animation, digital film, computer art, and computer applications.

If you are currently enrolled as a full-time student you are eligible to enter this contest for a chance to win cash prizes and Adobe software products.
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Entry Categories
There are three major categories in this contest with several linked subcategories:

Interactive Media

* Browser-Based Design
* Non-Browser Based Design
* Application Development
* Mobile Design
* Installation Design

Video and Motion

* Animation
* Live Action
* Motion Graphics

Traditional Media

* Illustration
* Packaging
* Photography
* Print Communication

Full detailed descriptions for these classes can be found by clicking here.

Contest Guidelines

• The contest is open to individuals 18 years or older that are enrolled as full-time students. (See full contest rules for restrictions)
• Submitted entries may be reclassified from one category to another at the judges discretion.
• Entries must be the original work of the submitter.
• Deadline for entries is June 4, 2010.
• Submitted entries must be created with at least 50% or more with Adobe tools in Adobe software formats.

The complete rules and guidelines for this graphic design contest can be obtained by clicking here.
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Judging
Adobe states on its website:

“The entries, whether submitted by an individual or a group, shall be judged together in each category on a points system, based on originality, effectiveness in meeting the communication objective, and contestant(s) skills in applying Adobe products as specified in their entry forms.”

The Awards
A $3000 cash prize will be awarded to the winners in addition to various Adobe software program packages such as Adobe design suites, web design applications, and other Adobe products.

Other Information
The deadline for this contest is June 4, 2010. Complete details and entry instructions can be found by clicking here.

Yourself as Art
Instead of creating art you can actually be part of it. The Power of Self international contest is announcing an open call for entries for self portraits. The sponsors of the contest state:

“We cannot tell you what is or is not your self-portrait. A reflection of your own image would be an easy “yes”. But does your work fall outside those bounds? We want to see it.

“We are looking for exciting, engaging & innovative work that is an expression of your self. We are looking for your likeness as much as we are looking for your interpretation of self-portraiture.”
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What to Submit

• The contest accepts a variety of mediums such as fine art, painting, sculpting, drawing, print making, graphic design, glass, book art, performance, video art, street art, photography, illustration, and tattoo art.

• The entry fee is $10 per image. Contest entries may be submitted in the form of an online portfolio with a biography of the individual. For an example, click here.

• To view the entry form and submit your pieces click here.

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Awards

• The Grand Prize winner will be honored with an Art-Star reception in New York City, international exposure and a feature in 3rd Ward Magazine, plus the choice of free living accommodations for six months at The Edge - an upscale apartment complex in New York City or $7007 cash.

• The People’s Choice Award winner will have their entry published on dozens of networked websites plus $1,000 cash.

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Contest Deadline
The final date for entries is January 14, 2010.

If you have ever submitted any forms for scholarships, you realize how involved it can become. But the Frame My Future Scholarship Contest 2010 may be the exception to the rule.

The contest is offering $5,000 in total prize money to five lucky winners plus an additional $1,000 to the grand prize winner’s graphic design school, graphic design college or university.

How It Works
Entering this contest is simplicity itself. Submit a JPEG image that communicates the following theme of “This Is How I Frame My Future.” The idea is to demonstrate, through your design, what your plans and vision are upon graduating college.

Acceptable Original Creations
After you have decided how to express your idea of what you want to accomplish and achieve after your graduation, you may submit your work in various forms such as:

• Photography
• Painting
• Graphic Design
• Drawing
• Poem
• Collage
• A Combination of All of the Above

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Who Is Eligible?
The scholarship contest is open to all full time students attending college for the 2010-2011 academic year. Entrants must show proof of legal US residency. For the official rules and guidelines, click here.

The Awards
Awards will be given to five “success driven” students in the form of $1000 scholarships. The grand prize winner will also receive a $1,000 donation to the school’s general scholarship endowment program.

The twenty-four finalists in this contest receive a commemorative “Frame My Future” frame displaying their submitted entry.

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Other Information
If you are enrolled for the 2010-2011 school year and are selected as a winner, your graphic design college can benefit as well. The deadline for entries is March 15, 2010. Winners are based upon the highest total amount of votes received during the website’s voting period at www.diplomaframe.com.

To submit your entry, click here. To view entries already submitted, click here.

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What the Secrets Are All About
In our previous three-part series on Interview Tips for Graphic Artists and Designers, we have covered areas on how to prepare and conduct one’s self during job interviews.

In this article, we’ll explore things that are not usually discussed — namely what other things interviewers consider when examining  potential hires.

The Mystery of Landing a Job
What distinguishes one job candidate from another after the interview process has concluded?

This question may be answered in the following five things that are usually not known regarding job interviews.

While these inside tips cannot guarantee you a job, they may help you understand the process of how the whole interview process works and what goes on in the minds of those who interview people for jobs.

The First Minutes Are Critical
How well and comfortable an interviewer responds to you can be crucial in a successful job interview.

Interviewers are skilled in picking up on non-verbal communication such as your body language, how you are dressed, and how sincere your answers are. If an interviewer fails to connect positively with a job candidate during the first few minutes, it can be an uphill battle to regain footing for the job seeker.

Interviewers Are Highly Attuned to Deception
Good interviewers are skilled at picking up signals from job candidates who exaggerate or overly enhance what they know or can do. Of course your portfolio can speak volumes about your talents, but capable interviewers can tell just how much experience you really have as opposed to what you say.

Interviewers Don’t Like Silence
As the interview process progresses, a candidate who pauses frequently, is at a loss for words, or is struggling to formulate cohesive responses usually raises a red flag for the interviewer. While nerves are perfectly understandable, a failure to communicate effectively can be a sore-point.

Interviewers Are Looking for Someone Memorable
When you consider that people who do job interviews can literally screen hundreds of job candidates in order to fill a specific job position, job seekers can all start to look alike after a while.

Candidates who do or say something memorable during the interview process can get the attention of the interviewer. If your qualifications also meet what they are looking for, you may increase your chances of being called back for a second interview session.

Interviewers Look for People Who Fit In
While your talent is certainly important in the process of qualifying for a job, your interviewer is also considering how well you may fit into the company’s work environment.

For example, if the workplace is a pressure cooker, the interviewer will be looking for people who can work well under tight deadlines. If the workplace is informal, they’ll be looking for individuals that are easy going and professional in their work habits.

Should You Take the Job Offer?
This seems like a rather odd question, but it should be seriously considered if the company calls you back with a job offer.

During the interview you should have taken mental notes about the person who was doing the questioning. How did the hiring manager or prospective boss treat you during the interview?

Did he seem pushy, disrespectful or condescending to you? If so, you must realize that this is the work environment that you may encounter if you accept the job.

But if everything checks out and you are satisfied with your assessment of the company and its working conditions, you can confidently say “Yes!” if the job offer comes through.

The Job Interview
Upon your graduation from graphic design college, the next step is to look for a job.

The job interview process can be mystifying, but in this job interview series, we list pointers and tips that can help you to interview successfully.

What to Do During an Interview
In part one of Interview Tips for Graphic Artists and Designers, advice was given on what to do in preparation for a job interview in graphic arts.

But what can you do during the interview to make it go smoothly?

Here are some tips:

• Be Yourself. This bit of wisdom is rarely given but is very useful in defusing any jitters you may have during the interview. It’s OK to say, “I’m a little nervous,” to the interviewer. The human resources person or potential boss understands this. Putting on a veneer of self-confidence rarely works and is usually quite transparent, so be yourself. Your honesty will be appreciated.

• Talk. Try to be straightforward with your answers and avoid long pauses or periods of silence in your responses. Part of the interview process is to evaluate your communication skills. If you are naturally quiet, that is fine. Just be prepared to speak more than you usually do during the interview.

• Ask Questions. Although job interviews are sometimes thought of as a one-way street — the interviewer asks questions while the interviewee answers, this isn’t necessarily the best approach for job candidates to take. If a question doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification.

• Demonstrate. If your portfolio is reviewed by your interviewer during your interview, you can offer information on what role you played in designing the pieces. Was it a team project or did you produce the work on your own? The interviewer may ask you what creative processes you used to arrive at your designs.

• Technical Terms. In any job there is a specific amount of jargon you need to know and understand. Your interviewer may present questions that are technical in nature such as, “What do you think the CMYK mix for the color of a red fire engine truck would be?” Brush up on your graphic arts terminology.

The Importance of Education
Getting a chance to interview for a design job can be a very exciting and nerve racking experience.

Your artistic talents are laid out for all to see and your work stands on its own to make or break the job deal and this certainly can be a little stressful.

But along with talent is the necessity to get a well-rounded education in your specific field of design.

If you are contemplating a career as a graphic artist, illustrator or media professional, graphic design schools can be of immense help in providing the career training you need to prepare for jobs in design.

The Next Time
What sort of questions will you be asked during the interview process? Should you take the job if the company makes you an offer? What else can you do to increase your chances of landing a job? We’ll cover these topics and more in the next few sessions.

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.