Redesign the broken models of the 20th century. Challenge our patterns of living and working in a fuel-hungry world…come up with solutions that connect us, make us more efficient, more humane. Focus on one area that needs fixing—products, interiors, buildings and landscape, communication systems, or anything else you can imagine—and develop your idea fully.

This competition, sponsored by Metropolis’ Next Generation, is open to all designers in practice ten years or less. All entries must be submitted by 30 January 2009 at 11:59pm PST. Residents of the following states by law are not required to pay an entry fee: AZ, CT, MD, ND, and VT. Visit the site to learn more.

This year, Electrolux challenges members of the architecture & design community to present innovative, thoughtful concepts of a kitchen that meets the changing needs of today’s modern family for a chance to win up to $75,000 in cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will also receive national exposure in Interior Design magazine.

To enter, submit a rendering of a kitchen design for a modern family, using Electrolux ICON appliances as your inspiration. Deadline is 17 October 2008. Visit the site [PDF] to learn more.

The Design Exchange Awards, presented by Canadian Business, promotes Canadian design excellence and recognizes the critical role of design in all types of organizations including commercial entities (large and small), not-for-profit organizations, and the public sector. The Awards celebrate the success stories achieved through close partnerships between clients and designers. The DXAs are Canada’s only award program to judge design by results, balancing function, aesthetics, and economic success.

A jury of leading business executives, designers and community leaders will select Award of Excellence and Award of Merit winners in each of the twelve categories, with one project winning Best of Category in each. DXA Winners will be listed in Canadian Business’ best-selling December issue (the annual ‘Rich100′ edition), which is on newsstands for up to 3 months. As a result, your company will become visible to Canadian Business’ total readership of 985,000. As well, winners are featured in a major exhibition at the Design Exchange. Past DXA exhibits have traveled across Canada and as far afield as Korea, to be shown alongside the best in international design. Winners are also featured in press releases and in Express, the DX newsletter (reaching a readership of over 20,000). Winners are celebrated by their peers in the Canadian design disciplines at a gala Awards Dinner – an invaluable networking opportunity for established and new designers alike.

Final deadline is 26th September, 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Architects and designers of interiors, fashion, products and graphics, you are cordially invited to enter your work into the 2008 International Design Awards. Professionals and students alike are encouraged to enter. Winners of IDA08 will be celebrated at a cocktail party and week-long reception in Los Angeles or New York in December 2008. In addition, the winners will receive pulication of their work in the 2008 International Design Awards book, to be distributed to museum bookstores nationwide; promotion in email blasts to 100,000 design professionals and potential clients worldwide; year-long coverage on the International Design Awards Web site; critical acclaim by a distinguished panel of judges. Finally, all entrants are automatically included in the IDA Designer Directory.

Deadline is 30 August 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Opening in the historic center of Florence, a new international school of design will welcome students from all over the world to commence its first full session on January 19, 2009. The Florence Institute of Design International will offer a new type of boutique academics focused entirely on international students providing Interior Design, Graphic Design and Architecture programs with both master and semester abroad options available, as announced by Founder and Creative Director, Architect Marc DiDomenico.

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Above: 1st Prize [d³] contest
Raphael von Allmen (ECAL) - Chair.

This competition is one of the most prestigious competition platforms for up-and-coming designers of interior products. It is open to students and graduates from the fields of product design, industrial design or interior architecture and allows all interior products like furniture, lighting, textiles, carpets or wallpapers at the status of prototypes at the time of the fair or in preparation for serial production. The jury of the “interior innovation award” will select the best developments and present the award to up-and-coming designers at imm cologne 2008.

All entries have to be submitted by September 15th 2008 (date of postmark) to the German Design Council which is organizing the competition on behalf of imm cologne. Visit the site to learn more.

At left: 2007 Oasis Award Winner, John van Allen.

Demand for outdoor kitchens is exploding. According to a December survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects, outdoor kitchens are among the most popular spaces being designed for residential clients. “Homeowners are requesting landscape architects design complete outdoor rooms, such as kitchens and bars, for entertaining.“

Submit a conceptual design for an exterior residential room appointed with pieces from Kalamazoo’s Custom Outdoor Kitchen Collection. Winning designs will be presented online and in the October ALSA Award issue of Garden Design.

Entries are due 1 August 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

You are invited to investigate the future design of the work environment – this is your opportunity to showcase your creativity to the Australian design community. Now in its second year, Workstation of the Future 2008 is recognized as one of the most exciting design competitions in the country.

Iken in conjunction with various sponsors is offering a unique and exciting opportunity for architects, designers and students to conceive the office of tomorrow. There are great prizes to be won including a D10-day trip to Orgatec, Cologne, a visit to their manufacturer, Gispen, in The Netherlands and a visit to Okamura in Japan.

There are two categories for working professionals and students: Innovation Award and Sustainability Award. The competition will run until 30th June 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Zehnder America is excited about the fact that their products have been so well accepted by the design community for their high quality, innovation and functionality. For this reason, Zehnder is announcing the first Zehnder Design Contest. The contest is open to industry professionals who would like to showcase their talents and ideas through their entry of a completed bathroom, master bathroom, powder room, spa or mudroom. The project must demonstrate the practicality, versatility and functionality of a Zehnder towel radiator with regard to efficient heating and creation of a comfort zone in the home.

The contest is open to kitchen and bath designers, architects, interior designers, and custom builders. Each entrant must show the use of a Zehnder towel radiator in the project. First place winner walks away with $3,500. Entries must be postmarked no later than 15 August 2008. Download the PDF to learn about more prizes and rules and regulations.

BravoTV is seeking undiscovered interior design stars for the second season of its hit competition series TOP DESIGN! They’re looking for all types of artists, interior designers - up-and-comers, established professionals and those aspiring to greatness. The winner will receive a spread in ELLE DECOR, $100,000 and lots of media coverage.

Completed applications and videotapes must be received by 15 February 2008 at 12:00PM ET to be considered; however, the earlier you send in that tape, the better. The video will become the property of the Producers and will not be returned to you, whether or not you are selected as a contestant. Visit the site to learn more.