Africa Design Award 2014 entries close end April

17 Apr 2014

Entries for the Africa Design Award are still open until 30 April. The players of 'African' design (designers, aspiring designers, design agencies, businesses that have incorporated the notion of design into their strategy of development, states, local authorities, associations, architects, cooperatives, craftsmen etc.) that have created and developed design concepts in any field, that have a direct or indirect link with the African continent, can present the project or concept of their choice - a project that already exists which must embody "a certain vision of Africa in its desire to move ahead, through the material consistency of the project or in the approach that it represents".

Africa Design Award 2014 entries close end April

African designers are considered first, however designers from other 'emerging' countries and whose creations have an African echo are also invited to enter the competition. The categories can concern product design, culinary design, sound design, design management, car design, interior design, furniture design and olfactory design.

Jury and committee

The Africa Design Award has a jury and a committee, both made up of personalities, presidents of large groups, journalists and press and multimedia executives, experts from all sectors, important names belonging to the world of design publishing, economic, financial and cultural players, from all over the world. The role of the committee will consist of supporting, accompanying and making known the projects and talents of the Africa Design Award around the world. The jury will identify the projects and their authors who will be selected and showcased through several channels of diffusion (including the international printed press, the internet).

For the founder of the project, designer Hicham Lahlou, Africa Design Award is a vision for Africa, beyond showcasing the creative force of the continent's talents, it is an ambitious wager which aims to place design at the heart of a dynamic of progress and cohesion for future projects. Imagining for future generations the best combination between the functional, the useful, the aesthetic and the need to transmit - this is the vision heralded by the Africa Design Award.

More than just a competition

More than just a competition, the Africa Design Award is an initiative aiming to fly the flag of design and innovation in Africa. It is also a way of allowing African talents to become known and take part in the momentum of the continent, thanks to their creativity, their good sense and their commitment.

Each year, one African country is honoured and hosts the event of the Africa Design Award prize ceremony. For the 2014 edition, the venue of the event will be announced in early May. In order to allow deciders in the public and private sectors to gain a real understanding, the organisation also has plans for Africa Design Days, with a programme of high level business-oriented workshops, exhibitions and lectures.

For more, go to www.africadesignaward.org.