International Design Contest – 15th edition

The competition is a biennial event established in 1995 by the Italian scholar of aesthetics and design Gillo Dorfles.

The 15th edition of the contest runs in unison with the EU Slovenia-Italy cross-border project for Nova Gorica and Gorizia, designated European Capital of Culture (ECoC) in 2025. In preparing the ECoC event, organising bodies from the two cities (which form one continuous urban area on the border) declare to “share the same commitment: being the European Capital of Borderless Culture”. So, the competition is an initiative towards the “GO! 2025 – Nova Gorica and Gorizia European Capital of Culture 2025” event, and produced by the Trieste Contemporanea Committee with the support of the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is carried out under the patronage of the Central European Initiative, which also has provided for one of its main prizes since 2006, and in collaboration with the Studio Tommaseo in Trieste.

Theme

• This edition of the competition seeks a potentially iconic item of street furniture that could represent symbolic meanings linked to historical location of Nova Gorica/Gorizia, and the sharing of cultural values. Street furniture is more than just a functional tool, it embodies social values and community action. As such, does it have the potential to also influence and shape those values and action? What can be sustainably transmitted in this location, at this point in time, through urban design to future citizens?
• The contestant should design a seating installation (e.g. a bench) with the above concept and sentiments and of course for resting, viewing the panorama and socializing. The designed street furniture must be absorbed into the daily social life of the cities and has to be designed merging functionality, formal simplicity, comfort, durability and minimal maintenance. It should be reproducible in a small series. The object of the study could possibly be placed both in the city of Nova Gorica and in that of Gorizia (at least two places in the two cities have to be foreseen in the project) and embody the ideal union of the two cities during GO! 2025 event, as well as future testimony to this ECoC 2025 and its values.
• To support preliminary project studies, two webinars and a study visit to Nova Gorica and Gorizia will be organised for contestants.

Award Information

• BEBA Prize – for the youngest designer individually participating, among those selected: 1.000 €.
• CEI Prize – for the best design from one of the non-EU CEI countries: 3.000 €.
• Gillo Dorfles Prize/First Prize Trieste Contemporanea – for 15th contest edition best design: 4.000 €.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participation in the competition is free.
• There is no age limit. Individuals and groups can participate in the competition.
• The competition is open to designers born in CEI member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine).
• In view of the enlarged territorial aspects, the 15th edition of the contest has been extended to include designers born in Austria.
• All group members must be born in the countries listed above. Groups, group members and individuals can only submit one project.
• Submissions must be original and previously unpublished and do not infringe, for any reason, the rights of any third party.
• Applications that are incomplete, late, not submitted online or that do not respect the formats and sizes (specified on the online form) will not be accepted.

For more information, visit Trieste Contemporanea Committee.