SpringChair, courtesy Modern Bamboo

All designers, art directors, design firms and departments, ad agencies, marketing and branding practices, clients, manufacturers and student or novice designers are welcome to join us. Spark accepts and promotes a wide range of design, designers and "creatives." As you'll see on our Categories page, this ranges from product design to advertising, digital animation to brick and mortar architecture. Professional Category admission is for designs launched on the market by May 2008 or no more than four years previously (from May 04). Students and novices (non-professionals) may enter each category, without their product being in production. (Proof of status required to win.) Each entrant may enter as many products as they wish.

There are awards for concept or prototype design--innovative designs that have yet to find a manufacturer or are in preliminary stages of development. Spark will also try to identify and highlight serious aspirational designs.

Each entrant may submit any number of products. There will be a two-stage competition process. The first stage will entail a 'virtual' online entry submission. After Phase I judging, those entries that are deemed to be "Challenger" candidates will go on to the second phase. Each phase has a separate fee.

Phase II deadline for entry is September 1. For Phase II, jury decisions are made from the actual product or graphics (when feasible). Large equipment, interiors, public spaces, buildings, digital and website design all may be submitted as visuals. Most other designs are best judged in physical, production or published form. Please note—designs should not be sent to Spark prior to the published delivery period from August 15 to September 5, 2008.

Please remember to document your design creation process. Consider all media for this--video, still photography, text. This is important for your own development and records and potential sharing for educational and promotional reasons.