Sparkawards

THE NEW SPARK:PRO AWARDS

Exciting news–The Spark Design & Architecture Awards, has been divided into two competitions. "Spark Pro," is now focused on work that has been built (produced, realized or in pre-production). This competition no longer includes design work in the idea or proposal stage, which now can be found in a dedicated competition called Spark:Concept. Both competitions continue Spark's core mission, Criteria and Categories.

Thanks for your interest in Spark. Please tell your friends—there's a new home for Good Design!

OVERVIEW
The New Spark Awards will divide the former competition into two new awards series for design entries, determined by their degree of “realization.” This division will allow for greater focus and dedicated resources for each type of design. Spark is international in scope and accepts entries from all designers, everywhere.

a. Spark Concept Design, for work that is essentially an idea
b. The Spark Design & Architecture Awards, for work that has been built (produced, realized or in pre-production)

TIMEFRAME
Spark:Pro will continue on the annual schedule established in 2008, with a Call For Entry February 1, and final deadline in late September. Jury and Winners Celebration will be held in October.

PROCESS
The Competition will be judged along the same lines as earlier Spark events—same Criteria, Categories, website and branding. They are multi-disciplinary and multi-level. Spark is a two-phase competition. There are two pricing tiers–one for companies and professional designers, and a second for NGO's and non-profit organizations (Status must be provable with to win a Spark).

Spark juries are new for each competition, international and come from across the spectrum of design disciplines, media, educators and experts.

Entrants will initially upload three low-resolution, 72 DPI images of their work, plus Finalists will send one high-resolution (300 DPI) image sized to fit an A0 board (sent to our Hi-res partner-site). Entrants will also supply a short description (synopsis) of up to 125 words, and a longer description of up to 1,000 words. All entries and their descriptions must be in English.

The Phase One jury will review entries at each deadline (Early and Standard). Status will be announced on a rolling basis, as judgments are determined. Finalists will pay a "hanging fee" to proceed in the competition, and send their work (or high-quality display board) to the Jury site in San Francisco, California.