After a much needed lovely summer break full of space, healing and reflection, I thought it would be a good idea to start collating and familiarising myself with up-coming live competitions and projects that appeal to me for my LAUIL603 Extended Practice module. I have plenty of ideas for my own self-directed projects but feel the sooner I know about what live / commercial competitions are out there over the future 10 months the better, so as to prep, plan my time, reduce the chance of 2nd year's 'Responsive'-like stress and give my head the space it needs to stew and juggle ideas for when I come to enter and take part.
Here is what I have found (and like the look of) so far:
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Project Briefs
• 36 Days of TypeLink: http://www.36daysoftype.com/
About:
Notes + Thoughts:
A chance to focus my practice on an area of design that I have always wanted to improve upon - typography. This project lends itself well to the kind of work i like to create - a collection / body / set / sequence of work around a theme, intricacy, narrative, logo / motif, colour, graphic etc etc the possibilities are endless but all housed within a very simple but effective brief. A challenge in itself to create "profile-worthy' designs every day for characters A-Z 0-10 and a brief that could also help boost my online presence (entrants of designs through instagram).
• The Sketchbook Project
BCTV - Brooklyn Art Library from Ali Hashemi - producerNY on Vimeo.
Link: https://www.sketchbookproject.com/
About:
The Sketchbook Project is the world's largest library of artists' books, crowd-sourced from every corner of the globe. The project is changing the way creative people share their work while creating a worldwide community resource. By getting a sketchbook, you are joining the movement, adding your voice and becoming part of something huge. Draw, write, collage, cut, print, photograph - it starts with an idea.
Submission Types
• Standard Sketchbooks:
Your sketchbook will automatically join the permanent collection in Brooklyn, NY. Your book will only be available to view in person in our permanent and traveling libraries.
• Digitized Sketchbooks:
By joining the Digital Library, your book will be professionally scanned and added to our online archive, in addition to traveling with our Mobile Library and joining our physical space Brooklyn Art Library in Brooklyn, NY.
You will receive a custom URL to access your sketchbook, where people can favorite your book, add it to a collection, and save it to view later. Digitizing is generally done before books go on tour.
Themes
Themes are just suggested starting points! Please feel free to adapt and create your book using your own style. You will select your theme when you connect your book, so feel free to start brainstorming. Don’t feel restricted by the themes provided!
- Distance From Origin | Arms and Legs | Repeat Pattern | Heading East
- Interesting Things | Clasp my Hands | This Interesting Person | Color Spectrum
- A Story Worth Telling | Home | Guidebook to the Past | Guidebook to the Future
- The Woods | In We Go | Long Stories, Short | Essentials
- Cats and Dogs | Trains and Planes | Characters | Half and Half
DEADLINE:
The postmark deadline for The Sketchbook Project 2018 is February 15, 2018. Full rules are available at support.sketchbookproject.com
By submitting your sketchbook to the collection, you are agreeing to our rules of the project and our terms of use. PLEASE READ ALL OF OUR TERMS OF USE AT: WWW.SKETCHBOOKPROJECT.COM/TERMS
Notes + Thoughts:
A massive challenge for someone who finds it difficult to work in sketchbooks - 'The Sketchbook Project' is a step out of my comfort zone completely. What I like about this self initiated project is that it could give me the chance to create work which expands on my skills as a creative practitioner. I like the idea of pushing the boundaries of what a sketchbook can be and using this format as a place to collate my work, ideas and investigate new methods of creating artwork and experimentation with media, approach and concept - while being able to loosen up and see how i improve my practice as the sketchbook evolves. The project lends itself to a personal creative 'journey' or chosen theme for a collection of artwork in the form of an illustrated book which will then reside as part of the Brooklyn Art Library for all to see. Awesome.
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Competition Briefs
I have found it quite hard to find live competition briefs running at this time of year with it being so early on, therefore as well as listing a few that I have found which are live, I have also had a think about competition briefs which aren't - that I know about and
would like to enter once they do go live.
• The Book Illustration Competition 2018
- House of Illustration // The Folio Society
About:
9am GMT on 16 January 2018
Notes + Thoughts:
I didn't push myself in the area of publication 'book' illustration at all last year therefore would really like to have a go and see if this is something I would like to aim my practice towards in the future. What I like about the prospect of creating book covers and internal spot illustrations within publications is the clear and uncomplicated connection between picture and text. I enjoy narrative within creative works and briefs such as this are nice - you have a theme to work too, a book to read for all the inspiration and ideas generation you need and the outcome is a finished, functional and professional piece / collection of work.
I have not yet read Mansfield Park by Jane Austin, therefore plan on acquiring a copy, giving it a read through and seeing if this brief is something I am inspired by enough to attempt.
• Secret 7
Link: http://secret-7.com/
About:
Secret 7” takes 7 tracks from 7 of the best-known musicians around and presses each one 100 times to 7” vinyl. We then invite creatives from around the world to interpret the tracks in their own style for every 7”. 700 sleeves are exhibited and then sold for £50 apiece. You don’t know who created the sleeve, or even which song it’s for, until you have parted with your cash - the secret lies within.
- See more at: http://secret-7.com/about#sthash.sCoeTSfy.dpuf
Notes + Thoughts:
I had so much fun entering this live competition as a part of level 5 and I found it was my most enjoyable brief I have undertaken so far. I learnt a lot about myself and my practice whilst responding to the 7 tracks and after the success of having my artwork featured in the final secret7 exhibition - I would really like to enter again. This brief is structured enough to not lose your way or purpose, but open enough to test out new approaches and create something really creative, interesting and striking to an audience of like-minded people. The competition / live brief is not live yet however I am already having thoughts on the kind of work I would like to submit. Inspired by entrants such as Felt Mistress who submit 3D works to the secret7 competition, I would like to try and create a set of 3D / paper-cut interactive pieces for the album covers in response to the music itself- pushing the boundaries of what album artwork / vinyl sleeves are.• Penguin Book Prize
Link: http://penguinrandomhousedesignaward.co.uk/index.php
About:
Standout cover design is an integral part of the success of a book and Penguin Random House has created thousands of iconic book covers throughout the years. The vital role of illustrators and designers in the production of some of the world's best-loved adult and children's books has created and defined the identity of our UK publishing lists.
We value creativity and design incredibly highly, and started the Penguin Random House Design Award ten years ago to encourage the next generation of designers to use their amazing talents to help us tell our author’s stories.
Notes + Thoughts:
Again another chance to have a go at book illustration and having been so close to entering this competition as part of level 5 (and feeling as if i missed out!!), I would like to make the most of this opportunity when it goes live again for submissions. What inspires me about this competition is the choice. Having 3 different genres to choose from or have an attempt at them all is rich pickings in my eyes in terms of well structured briefs and could help me decide what area of book illustration I would like to aim my practice at (if any)...e.g children book illustration, adult fiction etc. I have just signed up on their mailout list to be informed about the 2017 Design Award competition.
• Threadless - T-shirt challenge
Link: https://www.threadless.com/
About:
Artists from around the world submit designs, the Threadless community scores each design and the best of the best are printed and sold. New designs are chosen for print every week and the winning artists can profit handsomely for their designs, and in some cases, also take home big cash prizes from special themed design challenges.
Notes + Thoughts:
A live competition brief based around product. I love to see my work finished and serving a purpose and what better way to push this part of my practice than creating T-shirt designs!? Similar to the wallpaper 'Feathr' brief that I entered as part of level 5, Threadless appeals to the creative community - anyone can enter - and by submitting your design online, the public can then vote on what gets to win, be printed onto stock (t-shirts but lots of other products such as mobile phone cases, tote bags, journal covers etc) and sold commercially. Maybe a good way to develop some of my sketchbook designs and mini works?
Other live competition briefs and awards to keep an eye out for and consider when announced:
• D & AD
• YCN
• Feathr
• i-dott
• AOi
