The show for up-and-coming international designers

Exhibition and prize for the most talented young international designers at imm cologne 2011

Intention

Koelnmesse has commissioned the Rat für Formgebung/German Design Council to act as overseers and organizers of the young designers’ exhibition and prize at the International Furniture Fair, imm cologne 2011, which is named D3 Contest since four years and was formerly known as inspired by cologne. Up to 30 new product designs, the work of design students and young designers from around the world, will be preselected and featured in a special exhibition for the seventh time. The jury for the exhibitor prize, the interior innovation award cologne 2011, (due to be held at imm cologne) will then choose the three most talented up-and-coming international designers for 2011 from these nominees. A catalogue will be published on the occasion of the exhibition and the nominated participants will be actively involved in the press activities associated with imm cologne.

Participation

Entries are sought from design students and young designers from around the world who have gained their diploma not more than three years ago. Applications will also be accepted from groups consisting of a maximum of three people.

Application and selection procedure 

Design students and young designers should use the attached form to apply for nomination. From the applications received, the Rat für Formgebung/German Design Council will nominate a maximum of 30 products, the designers of which will be invited to exhibit and take part in the competition. Parallel to the direct application process, university professors will be asked to recommend individual students. Scouting will also be undertaken at fairs, diploma presentations and other events to find innovative products from young designers. The choice of designers will be made taking account of the provisions of the German General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz). The judges' decision is final.

Entries and applications

Products from the Interiors sector, including furniture, home accessories, lighting, flooring, wallpaper and textiles, will be accepted for inclusion in the nomination process. The designs should have been produced within the previous twelve months. Only prototype products may be submitted which have not yet been included in series productions, although those in the preparatory stages of series production may be eligible for entry. Products submitted may have already been on show at other exhibitions or have been featured in publications. Not more than three products may be entered by the same applicant. A 1:1 model(s) of the product(s) submitted should already be available for display in the exhibition or the entrant must be in a position to produce the said design model at his/her own expense by the time of the exhibition. A separate application form must be completed and signed for each product and sent to the address below, together with not more than two A4 (210mm x 297mm) colour prints of the products. Digital submissions cannot be accepted, with the exception of PDF files (maximum 1 MB), which should be sent exclusively to the e-mail address given. Documentation submitted for pre-selection cannot be returned.

Rights

Entrants retain at any time the copyright to the products submitted. Competition participants grant the organizers unrestricted user rights in respect of publications, press and advertising activities in the context of the event. No liability whatsoever, not even third party claims, can be assumed by the organizers.

Exhibition and Competition

Designers selected (nominated) to take part in the exhibition and prize competition will be requested to send in their products (in the form of a 1:1 model) for the show. All the products included in the exhibition will be on display from 17 to 23 January 2011 at imm cologne 2010.

The day before the fair opens, the jury for the interior innovation award cologne 2010 will also assess the work of the young designers featured in the exhibition and select three up-and-coming designers of imm cologne 2010. The following prize monies will be awarded to the winners: € 3,000 for first place; € 2,000 for second place and € 1,000 for third place. The prizes will be awarded at the ceremony for the interior innovation award cologne on Monday, 17 January 2011. Nominated competition participants are expected to be present at the imm cologne for the judging, press activities and awards ceremony. Participants nominated (or a representative from the design group) must undertake to be present at the fair at least during the period 16 to 19 January 2010 (excluding arrival and departure days).

Costs

Entry for pre-selection is free. Exhibition participants will be entitled to financial assistance, made available by Koelnmesse, in respect of their transportation, travel and accommodation costs. The level of financial reimbursement awarded will be agreed with each participant individually. Insurance cover for the products on show at the exhibition will be assumed by Koelnmesse.

Important Dates

Closing date for applications:

17 September 2010 (date of postmark)

Nominee selection

End of September 2010

Notification

Beginning of October 2009 by e-mail

Submission of prototypes

All the young designers nominated will be informed individually of the procedure to follow in preparing for the exhibition and awards ceremony and of the imm cologne 2010 fair events schedule.

Exhibition

D3 Contest at imm cologne 2010, 18 to 23 January 2010

Contact address for enquiries and submissions

• German Design Council
• Attn. Mrs. Natalie Köhler
• Postfach 15 03 11
• D – 60063 Frankfurt am Main
• Tel: +49 – 69 – 74 74 86-45
• Fax: +49 – 69 – 74 74 86-19
• E-mail koehler@german-design-council.de