The Design Exchange, in partnership with RBC, is pleased to announce the Emerging Designer Competition, an exciting national competition that seeks to provide an unparalleled opportunity for emerging Canadian designers to gain recognition and exposure while celebrating the immense and diverse design talent in Canada.
Participation is open to all Canadian designers with no more than five years of professional industry experience, across all disciplines. Projects submitted should be realized work, or be in the process of being realized.
The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000, and will also be partnered with a curatorial mentor who will aid them in the development of an exhibition to be featured at the Design Exchange in January of 2014, to coincide with Toronto’s internationally celebrated Design Week.
Secondary awards will be presented, including best of category awards, where participants may receive a $1,000 cash prize. All winning and honourable mention work will be featured onsite at the Design Exchange during the 2014 Design Week, in an awards publication, and in an online exhibition.
Register for the competition prior to September 1, 2013 on the Design Exchange website (www.dx.org). A registration number will be sent to you via email. Be sure to place that number on all submitted material, including your entry form which can also be found on the DX website. Submit the completed entry form along with the required materials listed below by 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2013. Any questions should be directed to the competition coordinator at 416.216.2138 (toll-free 1.855.216.2138) or at [email protected].
Designers are asked to submit: a cover letter to act as an introduction; a digital copy of their portfolio; a copy of their CV; two reference letters; and a short video. Entries must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday September 30, 2013. Late entries will not be accepted.
A jury comprised of Heather Reisman, Marcel Wanders and Douglas Coupland along with representatives from RBC will review all valid entries. Jurors will select the Emerging Designer of 2013 and secondary winners based on evidence that the work is innovative, unprecedented and viable. The jury reserves the right not to award prizes, and the jury’s decision is final. The Design Exchange will notify the winning Emerging Designer, and any secondary winners, on October 25, 2013.
For more information, please visit www.designexchange.org/pdfs/EmergingDesignerCompetition_Brief.pdf.