Admin Notes
Hi Friends— Welcome to Spark, a new community in the multi-layered world of design.

Spark is about Change—designed change. Change for the better: studied, researched, cognizant of criteria like sustainability, suitability, context, inventiveness, process, universality—and yes, beauty.

The goal is "betterment." Better lives, better health, better water, better air. Great design is a critical tool in our search for betterment.


Hudson House, Architect Stein

Designing Spark
We’re in the design biz too—in this case, designing a community service for designers. Check out our progress report and long-term initiatives, on the right.

New 2008 Spark Schedule
August 1—Phase I Deadline
August 15—Phase II Challengers Announcement
August 15-Sept. 5—Ship designs to Spark Jury Site
September 1—Phase II Deadline
September 6—Entrant Conference
September 9 & 10—Live Jury
October 3—Gala Reception and Exhibition of winning work

(Dates subject to evolution.)

PeopleChange
“Conceptual provocateur" Marc Gobé has opened a new shop called Emotional Branding in NYC...
Jared Hendler has parked SmashTube and joined Edelman Digital as Executive Creative Director...
Richard Saul Wurman, Author and Founder of T.E.D., has launched his awesome www.19.20.21.org project.
Manuel Saez has moved from Humanscale to hang his own shingle: Manuel Saez Design...
Jared, Manuel, Christian Banfield (Schmick TV) and Steve Smith (Ritchie Capital and Toward Consilience) have joined the Spark Community Boards... yah!


WHERE HAVE YOU SPARKED?
If you have entered another design competition in the last two years, you may receive a $25 off discount for your first (Phase one) Spark entry. Proof of previous entry required (copy of entry receipt, etc.) 

SparkNewsNow #6-B

Progress Report

Spark reports some interesting news for mid-May. Read on about Autodesk and Bravo, new partners in the quest to Spark!

Some visitors ask what Spark is all about. Spark is a design competition that receives entries from many disciplines; from architecture to product design, cars to washer-dryers, computers to books, advertising to advocacy.

Spark entries also come from all levels, from novice innovators to students to seasoned professionals and from small design practices to the Mercedes-Benz Studios. We promote all our entrants—not simply the winners, and we take special interest in promoting design to corporations and consumers.

What's Next?
Our primary concern is always the upcoming competition. And it's coming up fast-- so get your designs registered today!

Beyond just doing business as usual, we're looking for ways to better serve designers, design and society. Spark’s next goal is to help these communities experience design in a physical form, in context with current thinking and linked to the best work of design giants that have come before.

This will be a design “museum” that goes far beyond old models--celebrating process--and open, flexible, touchable and accessible. A "view point" on the fast-moving current of international design, designers, innovation and thought.

Spark has found that home. A state of the art venue that enables people to experience design, in context with process and provenance. This is a very significant step forward for every designer.

All Spark winners in 2008 will be exhibited in the new Autodesk Design Center in San Francisco. A significant portion of them will be there for the whole competition year. It will be open to the Public and will clearly become an international cultural and tourist destination.

We capture Sparks. We've found a place to keep them hot.

Next Up: Bravo TV Joins Spark, Spark Joins TV
We're proud to be partnering with Bravo Media, a division of NBC Universal, to help spread the word about design, designers and Spark winners. You'll soon see Spark news and announcements on their website, and look for other projects soon.

Have the video bug yet? SparkTV wants you. Renowned Producer/Director Drew Takahashi will be overseeing a great group of pro's (David Gottlieb, Christian Banfield, Robert Yuhas, John Pattyson and Jared Hendler) and others to build out our new DesignTube. There will be a Call For Entries for shorts films concerning design, from individuals and from design firms and departments. Spark will also televise the highlights of the Jury Pre-Show and the Gala Exhibition launch. Stay tuned!

Special Note on Documentation
To discover the process and “back story” behind our design submissions, Spark strongly suggests that you document your design’s creative genesis. We encourage you to retain your models, photograph and videotape critical points in development, document all examples (including mistakes and misdirection’s) and analyze in writing what is developing. This is both for your archival and educational purposes--and for potential Spark winner exhibitions, Spark web and SparkTV (designTube.tv) exposure. Don't miss out--buy a little cam-corder (you'll flip over the new Flip) and start cranking, C.B.!

>Register NOW