Have you created a fabulous trade show exhibition design lately? If so, you should let the world see it! Exhibition Magazine’s 23rd Annual Exhibit Design Awards is accepting entries.

Designs that were launched between Dec. 1, 2006, and Dec. 1, 2008, can be entered in several categories, which include categories: Green Exhibits (designs that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as realized through sustainability, eco-friendly or recycled materials, and/or a reduction of energy consumption.) Elements and Details (Innovative elements or materials that are part of a larger exhibit. Look here for examples) and Small Budgets and Small Spaces (Custom exhibits measuring 10-by-10 or 10-by-20 feet with a budget of $15,000 or less.)

The 2009 competition will offer one EDGE Award (for Exhibit Design and Graphic Excellence) and multiple Gold, Silver, and Special Merit Awards. Winners will be featured in the May issue of EXHIBITOR magazine, read by 30,000 marketing professionals in the trade show, corporate event, and meetings industries. To apply and find out more go the magazine’s web site.

It seems like Obama’s supporters are determined to make him go down in history as the candidate with the hippest signage ever. (Or perhaps the recent decline in enthusiasm among young voters is making them nervous.) Design and graffiti legend Shepard Fairey has teamed up with artist-designed t-shirt peddlers Upper Playground and Move On to host the “Manifest Hope Art Gallery” at the Democratic National Convention. The gallery, open from Sunday, August 24 through Thursday, August 28 2008, will feature both known and new artists all supporting Barack Obama for President. Moreover, should you feel so inclined, your work can be a part of this project. The groups also launched a related contest today, calling for entries of visual art from grassroots supporters of Senator Obama. (more…)

Those of us who missed this film’s theatrical release last fall can now enjoy the captivating feature-length indie in the comfort of our own lap top as the movie has just become available for download on iTunes.

“Helvetica”, which is directed by Gary Hustwit, looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. Interviewees include Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher and many more.

Although the subject may seem geared towards font nerds, the film is unexpectedly universal. The Chicago Tribune’s review stated that “The real achievement of the picture is the way it sharpens your eye in general and makes connections between form and content, and between art and life.” Sounds like the perfect inspirational recharge.

Designboom, together with partners DA Design Association of Japan and Tobu Department Store, is calling for entries for their international Green Earth graphic design competition. The competition is divided in two themes, and you may enter projects in one or both categories. The first theme is called ‘Green’ and competitors are asked to create a graphic artwork that illustrates environmental protection and how human beings and nature could coexist in a greener world. The second theme ‘Earth’ is based on the idea of giving the gift of a greener world at Christmas. Entries should be a graphic artwork that creates a link between this festive time of year and a call to help our planet’s survival. Use of iconic Christmas motifs such as rein deers and trees are allowed and encouraged.
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Steven Heller and David Womack (more or less)

Steven Heller and David Womack are two of the most important and knowledgeable writers, thinkers and talkers on design today. They recently collaborated on the book “Becoming a Digital Designer: A Guide to Careers in Web, Video, Broadcast, Game and Animation Design”, which offer an insightful overview of the contemporary digital design industry, as well as interviews with top designers. We thought it would be interesting to get their take on the good, the bad and the ugly in digital design today. So we gathered one afternoon in Steven’s office, as they unleashed their opinions and expertise (along with some friendly banter). (more…)

The British Council’s initiative Creative Economy, which aims to help establish global networks in creative fields, is announcing the launch of its new UK Young Design Entrepreneur award. The purpose of the award is to create networks between young design entrepreneurs and the design industry in emerging economies. The three finalists of 2008 will travel to India to meet leading industry figures and participate in meetings, tours, talks and workshops with the goal of establishing future collaborations. (more…)

This is a last minute call for HOW’s 10th annual Interactive Design Awards.

The competition is open to all designers from anywhere in the world. Any interactive, interface or motion designs for the web, for kiosks, for broadcast or for use on Macintosh or Windows platforms, including CD-ROMs and DVDs, are eligible. Projects created between January 1, 2007 and July 15, 2008 are eligible. Entries will be accepted in 12 categories including the new In-House category.

The competition’s Best of Show winner will be profiled in HOW’s 2009 International Design Annual and will win a trip to the 2009 HOW Design Conference. All winning entries will be featured in the International Design Annual, and some may be showcased on the HOW website. Entry fees are as follows: $75 Regular Entry and $50 Student Entry. Entries must be postmarked by July 15, 2008. Late entries will be accepted until August 1, 2008.

For more information, rules and official entry form, visit here or send an email to how-competition@fwpubs.com.

“Don’t Worry – Be Curious!” is one of the most wonderful titles of an art exhibition I’ve ever come across. Art has many shapes and forms and purposes (or sometimes none) and at its best it has the ability to open our eyes and see to the world differently. Sometimes that means being made aware of pain and injustice that we have previously ignored, and sometimes it means seeing beauty and possibility in our daily grind. (more…)

A still from the “Hands” campaign for Hewlett-Packard, the 2007 first-place winner. AGENCY: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners; DESIGN FIRM: Motion Theory.

We know the submissions deadline is not until November, but it’s never too early to give yourself a head start for PRINT magazine’s prestigious Creativity + Commerce: The International Business Graphics competition. Some of the reasons to enter: you would be awarded serious bragging rights, your work would be displayed in a special section in the October 2009 issue of PRINT and there are cash prizes totaling $9000.

Submitted work must have been produced between July 1, 2007 and November 1, 2008, and should fall within print graphics and interactive/motion categories. Enter here

In the meantime, we can look forward to the announcement of the 2008 winners in October and read about last year’s winners here

Hjalti Karlsson and Vera Yuan at home with their son Dagur

Married couple Vera Yuan and Hjalti Karlsson live together in New York with their one-and-a-half-year old son Dagur. They are both designers and, as with all creative people, their work is an important part of their lives. Which also makes it an important part of their relationship (“It IS the relationship,” Vera jokes before the interview). We thought the marriage of love and design was an interesting topic and sat down with them on a hot and humid June morning to explore it further. (more…)