CALL for INSTRUMENTADESIGN 2020
between ancient and contemporary

Exhibition of selected works: 2020-2021
Deadline: 20th May 2020
FAQ link

The competition is promoted by Arte e Design Venezia in collaboration with Italian Archeological Museums.
It is open to any designers from all over the world who choose an inspirational object of an Italian museum.

Media Partner and organizational secretary: Venice Design Week

1) ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open to anyone engaged in designing or working with precious metals, gemstones and such, but also recycled or poor materials are welcome. The award focuses on a contemporary design inspired by ancient design. It is an ideal platform to increase awareness of your brand and to get recognition in Italy.

2) THEME

The objects have to be inspired by archeological findings, the designers are invited to choose a piece from an Italian museums to which the final work(design) can be related. . The designer is free to interpret the ancient to create something contemporary. Here is a list of some examples: object for the house, object for the table, everyday objects,personal accessories including jewelry.

3) TIME LIMIT

Works must have been completed within the 24 months after the closing date for entries.

4) CLOSING DATES

All entries must be delivered mail to instrumenta@venicedesignweek.it and remember to fill in the application form

When submitting your work keep in mind that your submission will be evaluated primarily on visual appeal, choice of material and craftsmanship. We suggest to send an editorial main image on white or black background where the product is clearly visible.

Entries cannot be sent by post in the first round. Entries submitted after 20th May 2020 at 2.00pm CET may not be judged. The jury will select the works that have to be delivered to the museum indicated by the organization.

Entrants are responsible for the delivery of their work to (and back) the assigned museum.

5) AWARDING CRITERIA and JUDGING

Your final project must be usable. The piece must be your original design.

The designs will be selected according to form, functional and emotional aspects; the objects are considered for their degree of innovation, aesthetic qualities, ergonomics and quality of craftsmanship.

Let us know if you have already entered your piece in another competition, you can also enter this one.

Judges do their pre-selection and then, in consultation with each other, they announce a final decision. The aims and objectives of the Judges are to decide whether an entry has an high standards in craftsmanship and/or design and if it merits be exhibited during the Venice Design Week. In case of Judges being unable to agree on a unanimous decision, a majority vote will be accepted.

The members of the jury will be the representatives of  involved museums, dell’Associazione Arte e Design Venezia, and experts in design.

6) ENTRY PROCEDURE

We ask you to send by mail three A3 papers:  1. A3 (base 42 cm x 29,7 cm high): half with the picture of the ancient object that inspired you (Museum and name of the object) and a half with your project, 2. A3 with technical design of your project and text to explain the relation to the theme and the functionality. 3. if you like you can add what is useful to understand better your project.

All completed entries will receive a confirmation email within three weeks from the date of submission. Remember that we expect an email/wetransfer/dropbox with your project. You are also required to fill in the form online.
The deadlines specified are final and there are no extensions. Multiple entries are possible by adding 50% of the subscription fee for each object presented after the first one.

Subscription fee: € 60 designers and free for students.

Bank transfer to: Arte e Design Venezia Associazione Culturale
write, references: name and surname or brand – INSTRUMENTA DESIGN
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.a. filiale 55000 – Piazza Paolo Ferrari, 10 – 20121 Milano Italia
IBAN IT15B0306967684510749163461 BIC BCiTiTMM (only EU bank transfer)

Extra EU residents please contact the organization by email, it is possible to pay the fee with PayPal or Credit Card or Western Union transfer.

7) INSURANCE

The exhibition at the museums is covered by an insurance for the maximum value of € 1000 for a piece. Selected participants are asked to insurance the delivery of their works.

8) AWARDS

Judges will choose the designers to take part in the exhibition “INSTRUMENTADESIGN 2020 – between ancient and contemporary”. The Judges will be able to nominate special mentions or additional prizes in addition to the exhibition in the museum. Selected projects will be published locally and nationally. The Venice Design Week platform used for the competition (will) also allows international visibility.
Competition finalists will gain benefits for future exhibitions and will become part of the Venice Design Week Creative Community

The judges may decide to give/grant an extra prize in addition to the participation in the exhibition.

9) SCHEDULE and DEADLINES

20th May 2020 is the deadline to submit to instrumenta@venicedesignweek.it a digital file of your work, which can be in the form of a drawing, rendering or photograph (a photo of the neutral object on a neutral background and, in case of accessories, a photo of the worn accessory; one picture of the ancient object that inspired you and a text to explain the relation to the theme) and the subscription fee or, if you are a student if you are a student enrolment to the university

5th October 2020 Jury meeting. In the following days the designers will be notified about the final decision.

Later we will program the exhibition: the selected designers have to deliver their work, at the assigned Museum

 

10) SELECTION

Judges may not accept incomplete entries or if an adequate quality level has not been achieved.

11) EXHIBITION

The exhibition will be open to the public for one month in 2020 or 2021 (with the possibility of extension).

Judges will choose the winning works to exhibit.

12) COLLECTION OF ENTRIES

All artworks must be collected from the Venice Design Week after the exhibition.

Optional: postal deliveries are recorded separately and items valued under €1,000 the spedition costs will be of €140 for shipping, packing and insurance, payable, in advance, by bank transfer to: Venice Design Week or selected partner. For items valued more than €1,000: additional costs of postage, packing and insurance will be estimated and the designer will be informed.

Any artworks not collected after a month from closing the exhibition will be charged €100 per item per month. If not collected within two months following the date above the artworks may be disposed at the discretion of the Venice Design Week.

THE VENICE DESIGN WEEK IS THE ARBITER OF THESE RULES AND THEIR INTERPRETATION IS FINAL.

13) CEREMONY and MEETING WITH DESIGNERS

The meeting with the designers will be held during Venice Design Week 2020. Participation in the ceremony only by invitation.

The exhibition will be promoted in local and national press, in online platforms and in the Venice Design Week social networks. If you want to create a personalized postcards or if you are interested in the VDW designers’ index, you can request for advertising options.

14) REGISTRATION

To confirm the sign-up, the photos of the projects, its data sheet and description (in English) plus a copy of the bank transfer have to be sent to instrumenta@venicedesignweek.it