Happy? Student design competition

London College of Fashion is conducting a Design Competition for the students of IFFTI (INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTES) member institutions at the 2009 IFFTI Annual Conference scheduled to be held at London College of Fashion, UK from 1-4 April, 2009. The theme of the conference is “Fashion and Well – Being?”

Eligibility: This competition is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Please note that only students belonging to IFFTI Member Institutions may enter this competition.

Title: The title of the competition is Happy?

Brief: Designers respond to needs, constraints, consumers’ demands, social changes, economic fluctuations and political agendas. Our world is evolving through shared use of technology, climatic concerns and the quest for personal fulfillment. We have many question and concerns which require answers to help us understand our future, and to make us content.

Topics: Choose 1 of the following topic and develop your response, with the mission to produce an outcome, which would deliver a sense of happiness.

(a) Identity and difference: How can we express our positivity and happiness through personal presentation in clothing, colour, fashion graphics, or styling? Can you create a fashion subculture, or style with projects happiness?

(b) Designing the future: Consider a retail space, interior, packaging, branding or new business concept, which would attract the consumer by communicating a sense of harmony contentment, wellbeing or happiness.

(c) Health: How can products enhance our health? Can an experience or exposure to designed accessories, environment or clothes improve or reinforce positive health and self-positivity?

(d) Ethics: Can we recognise the challenges presented within this issue, and live as happy consumers? Can great design be harmonious and allow us to feel good?

(e) Sustainability: How can this be fun, and look great?

(f) Retail: Online, in-store or paper based – can we ever want to go shopping because it makes us feel great – even if we don’t buy, but just wan the positive experience?

(g) Technology: Pocket gadgets, or online interfaces. Think about how we find pleasure in technology. Do we need to go back to writing letters? Can you create the new positive technological experience?

(h) Environment: How can we enjoy our environments whilst acknowledging our responsibilities to preserve, enhance and provide for future generations: Consider all definitions of environments.

As the project is challenging the traditional definitions of fashion, you are encouraged to be as innovative and directional as you wish to respond with an exciting and creative outcome. The judges are looking for new thoughts around fashion and wellbeing.

Key Dates: -

Submission opens: 17 January 2009

Submission deadline: 31 January 2009

IFFTI Awards: The winner of the competition will receive following awards from IFFTI:

(a) A cheque of USD 2000/-

(b) Conference Registration Fee

Detailed instructions: -

(a) Each applicant should choose one topic for investigation and design proposal.

(b) All submissions to be two dimensional, sized A3 landscape (need to meet dimensions for this).

(c) The format may include photographs, drawings, written information, technical drawings etc., marketing strategy, business concept, and visual concept.

(d) Final sheet to illustrate products/concept, etc.

(e) Each submission should contain a maximum of three A3 sheets.

(f) All written information should be in English.

All applicants must provide full name, institution, course, tutor’s details, and personal contact information.

Address: The entries are to be forwarded to the following address: -

Room 319
London College of Fashion
20 John Princes Street
London W1G 0BJ
England

Detailed guidelines for submission of designs are available on IFFTI Conference website www.iffticonference.com.

IFFTI Members are requested to encourage students to participate in this competition in large numbers