IDI GRADUATE DESIGN AWARDS 2022

The IDI Graduate Awards 2022 si now close for entries and the short list is now live.

You can see last years winners here.

Download the Entry Pack

 

CATEGORIES

1 ANIMATION In this category entrants can submit projects that use animation (2D/3D), motion graphics, visual effects, or gaming. Projects should consider the kinetic nature of the moving image and demonstrate its use to creatively contribute to the overall project. Entrants can submit moving image files or links to externally hosted content together with storyboards.

2 ARCHITECTURE Projects in this category must be for the built environment. This includes all residential, commercial, retail, office, hospitality, healthcare, education, conservation, leisure, marine, public, performance and museum based projects. The project entries can be a new build, retro-fit or fit-out. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images.

3 INTERIOR DESIGN / INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE Projects in this category must be focused on interiors designed for commercial, educational, cultural, or residential use. This interiors category also covers fit-outs, renovations, and alterations to existing structures. The jury will consider the use of space, the adaptation, complexity, purpose, innovation, impact, clarity, accessibility, sustainability, materiality, and transition of the project. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images. Walk-through videos are also welcome (3 mins. or less).

4 INTERACTION DESIGN Projects in this category can include Service Design, UI/UX, and Digital Product Design. The Interaction Design award recognizes user orientation and outstanding design in products, digital solutions, and designed services. For websites, please provide a link to a live site. The jury will focus on how the project met the demands of present day and future users, positive user experience, added human value, empathy, imagination, and engendered brand identity that is accessible, comfortable and sympathetic. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images. Under the attachments section, you may include a 1 page PDF document further elaborating on the process in addition to the maximum 500 word description given under the criteria section.

5 EXHIBITION DESIGN/ VISUAL MERCHANDISING Entrants to this category are exhibition design, store, window, in-store, pop-up shop designs or any other visual merchandising displays that motivate customers towards a purchase. The jury will consider technical skill, inventive use of media, complexity, commercial purpose and/or message, creativity, innovation, visual impact, clarity, materiality, choice of merchandise, and proportional transitions. Strong photography is essential for the judging of the final submission. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images. Walk-through videos are also welcome (3 mins. or less). 

6 TEXTILES This category is for the design of fabrics, yarns and fibers; whether for clothing, accessories or other uses. The jury will be looking for ground-breaking techniques, use of fabrics, quality, functionality, and overall craft. Please include macro/close-up photographs of your fabrics and how they have been used. Strong photography is essential for the judging of the final submission as judges will not see actual fabric samples. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images.

7 FASHION DESIGN This category is for garments or a collection of garments that are functional or experimental and are executed considering silhouette, cut, draping and movement. The jury will be looking for technical ability in the production of the garment, use of fabrics, functionality, and overall demonstration of craft. Pay particular emphasis to the quality of the photography. As well as photo-shoot images of garments worn, it would be very helpful to include detailed images to showcase your project. These could be close ups of tailoring, embellishments, and detailing. Bear in mind the judges only have images to review and important details of the design may not be apparent. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images.

8 *NEW IN 2022* ACCESSORIES AND ARTEFACTS Entries for this category can include objects for home, retail, fashion, jewellery, craft, heritage projects, etc. Bear in mind that judges will only have images of your work to review, so high quality, well-lit photographs of your objects will be very beneficial to best showcase your project and to highlight important details of the design. 

9 DESIGN RESEARCH This year entries must be in by 7th July 2022. This category is for academic research as an extended essay OR thesis. (Minimum word count: 6000). The Design Research category awards academic research that is embedded in any design sector and aims to improve, investigate or add to understanding of that topic. This category applies to both Masters and Bachelors projects including those submitted for a BA, BArch, BDes, BSc, MA and MSc students on a taught course. Please upload a separate abstract along with the body of text in PDF format.

10 PRODUCT DESIGN: FURNITURE DESIGN This category is for pieces of bespoke furniture or furniture designed to be manufactured commercially. The jury will be looking for ground-breaking techniques, use of material, quality and overall craft. Pay particular attention to the quality of the photography. As well as photo-shoot images, it would be very helpful to include detailed images to showcase your project. Bear in mind the judges only have images to review, important details of the design may not be apparent. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images.

11 PRODUCT DESIGN: INDUSTRIAL OR CONSUMER PRODUCTS This category is for any project for the consumer and non-consumer market including industrial, heavy equipment, lighting, products for children, office equipment and transportation. The jury will be looking for innovative design that places the end user at the centre of the proposed solution, use of material, high quality and overall attention to detail. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images. **This category excludes medical devices and furniture.

12 PRODUCT DESIGN: MEDICAL DEVICES This category is for any project, product or solution that has been designed to address a requirement in the medical device sector. Projects would include those looking at assisted living technology, clinical and laboratory equipment, hospital, medical/healthcare devices and other life sciences equipment. This category is sponsored by Design Partners. The jury will be looking for innovative design, of a high quality that achieves a high aesthetic standard without compromising on usability. Design solutions should place the end-user at the centre of the proposed solution and the benefit to the user should be clear. Use of material and overall attention to detail are important considerations. Use good quality JPGs only for your attached images.

13 MOVING IMAGE In this category entrants can submit projects that use moving image; These could include but not limited to; audio visual, silent film, advertising, music videos, dance pieces, short documentaries. Entrants can upload moving image pieces with or without storyboards or link to externally hosted content.

14 DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY This category is open to any projects, which address a social need. It encompasses themes in design for environmental, social and economic sustainability, biodiversity, regenerative design, climate action and socially sustainable design and which consider the ongoing global context.

15. *NEW FOR 2022* USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN DESIGN In this category, we ask entrants to submit photography used in a design project. Photographs must be the students own and must make up a body of work rather than purely singular images. You can submit any suite of original photographs designed to be used for books, book covers, editorial, posters, packaging, look book, etc. The jury will look for creativity, concept and craft in both the photography and how it fits into the overall design.

16 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: BRAND IDENTITY In this category entrants can submit a variety of applications for a visual brand, including logo, stationery suites, brand guidelines, print, digital, environmental, signage etc. (all applications of the identity and visual language). The jury will be looking for an identity that shows a unified vision and tools that help the client build the brand.

17 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: DESIGN FOR DIGITAL In this category entrants can submit projects that will be viewed, used or exist online or in digital format only. These projects could be cinematic, experimental, kinetic or explore innovation through digital outcomes. They could be frontend design for online projects but must consider how the viewer connects with the information through digital means. Please provide URL links to any live projects, or upload Gifs etc. with your submission. If required you may submit a 1-page PDF further elaborating on the process. This is in addition to the maximum 500 word description.

18 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: ILLUSTRATION In this category entrants are asked to submit illustrations used in the context of a design project. Illustration work must be a body of work, no singular images and can include any original artwork designed to be used for books, book covers, editorial, posters, packaging, etc. The jury will be looking for creativity, concept and craft in both the illustration and how it fits into the overall design.

19 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: PACKAGING DESIGN In this category entrants are asked to submit packaging projects which can come from any sector; food, beverage, technology, FMCG, clothing etc. Entrants should consider the impact packaging has on our planet and propose solutions that do not add to landfill, but are functional, make use of innovative substrates and consider the full life cycle of the product.

20 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: PRINTED BOOK In this category entrants can submit printed books; educational, text, children’s, art, coffee-table books etc. The jury will look at the overall presentation of the object, the context for which it is intended and the inventiveness of layout and care with type as well as print decisions and execution.

21 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: PRINTED MATERIAL (OTHER THAN BOOKS) In this category entrants are asked to submit projects including; posters, booklets, printed collateral and matter that perhaps does not fit in the other visual communication categories. The jury will be looking for creativity, innovation, functionality and craft in both the design and the print choices and how well the project has managed the printed ephemera.

22 VISUAL COMMUNICATION: USE OF TYPOGRAPHY IN DESIGN In this category entrants will demonstrate excellence in typographic execution and understanding. Typography should be an intrinsic element of the overall design solution. The jury will look for creativity, subtlety, nuance or differentiating impact of the typography, craft, detail, consistency, originality, maintenance of superlative standards and clarity in visual communication of emotional or commercial message.

23 UNIVERSAL DESIGN Is your entry a Universal Design? A Universal Design should be easy to Access, Understand and Use by a wide range of people. Universal Design is a free extra (opt-in) IDI Award category. To opt-in for a Universal Design award , you must include the words “Universal Design” as part of the text about your entry. Judges will evaluate a qualifying entry based on how clearly you show that you followed a Universal Design Approach – the extent to which you have considered and addressed the more diverse needs, abilities and characteristics of users throughout the design process (Age, Size, Ability and Disability). Judges will also be looking for you to clearly show that your entry aligns with at least 4 of the 7 Principles of Universal Design by identifying the design features and elements that specifically achieve the relevant Universal Design Guidelines.

NOTE 1: Access, Understand and Use is about how people generally interact with or experience a design: first they Access it (approach and perceive); secondly they Understand it (comprehend and decide); and thirdly they Use it (act or react). NOTE 2: Terms such as “Design for All”, “Universal Design”, “accessible design”, “barrier-free design”, “inclusive design” and “transgenerational design” are often used interchangeably with the same meaning. (“Universal Design” is the term used in Ireland and in related International publications.) Find information about Universal Design at: http://universaldesign.ie/What-isUniversal-Design/

24 DESIGN FOR CHANGE The Design for Change category encompasses any project that aims to assist, improve or enhance a group or groups of people, or places through design intervention. This can be in the context of the environment, culture, society, disenfranchised or marginalized groups. Projects cannot be entered into this category rather judges will shortlist projects from all entries, which will be reviewed by the Graduate Awards Committee and IDI President.

25 GRAND PRIX The Grand Prix recognizes emerging talent from all graduate entries. This can come from any category and the winner must demonstrate the potential to become a leader in the design industry and an ambassador for the values IDI holds. Projects cannot be entered into this category rather judges will shortlist projects from all entries, which will be reviewed by the Graduate Awards Committee and IDI President.

 

THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

– Entry to the awards is open to all students currently in full-time college, set to graduate in 2022.

– You must be studying on or graduating from a design programme at minimum Bachelor Degree (NQF level 7) in Ireland.

– You may be studying on or graduating from a Bachelor (Hons) Degree (NQF level 8) or Masters programme (NQF level 9). Both taught Masters are eligible. These include; BA, BArch, BSc, BDes up to taught MA, MSc.

– Entries can also be from Irish designers in full-time education based abroad, who are graduating with a design degree in 2022.

– PhD students are ineligible to enter.

– If in doubt, please contact info@idi-design.ie

 

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