2019 SDGs Design International Awards

Entry Guidelines

Eligibility

Any student in a Japanese or overseas university, vocational school, or graduate school (including working students), who is interested in design, may enter.
Students not majoring in design are also welcome to enter.

※ Individuals or groups
※ Able to present their work at the Kyushu University Ohashi Campus on March 14, 2020

Entry Design Conditions

Any genre of design is accepted. This not only includes design involving color and shape, but also design of services and social systems. We are seeking viable proposals that can help achieve the aims of the SDGs.

Submission Items and Process Initial Review: Written Plan

Submit designs and ideas for A, B, or C using the entry form and in the designated written plan format. You can download the format document from the submission page.

Second Review: Presentation Board

1. Explanation of the work outline in presentation board size (A1: 594 × 841 mm), PDF format, in English.
2. English version of the plan document sent in the first review.
3. Send the work (optional) to the secretariat. Those who pass the first review will be contacted with specific details.

※Works that are sent will be published on this site.

Final Review: In-person Presentation

Those who pass the second review will be asked to give a presentation at the Kyushu University Ohashi Campus.

※ Individual entrants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Schedule

• First Review Entry Period
  June 1 – October 31, 2019
• Announcement of First Review Results
  End of November 2019 (planned)
• Second Review Entry Period
  Early December 2019 –
  Late December 2019 (planned)
• Announcement of Second Review Results
  Late January 2020 (planned)
• Final Presentation and Award Ceremony
  March 14, 2020

Rights and Rules Concerning Entries

1. Attribution to rights holder and rules applied to the entrant’s work

• The copyright for the submitted work and other intellectual property rights belong to the entrant.
• However, regardless of whether or not the entrant is involved in this competition, with regard to advertising and other work by the organizer of this competition, consent is implied for non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, and free-of-charge use of all works related to this competition in Japan and other countries.
• Entrants will not exercise the author’s moral rights concerning work related to this competition against use of the work by the organizer of this competition.

2. Rules concerning plagiarism in entries

• For all entries, applicants themselves must confirm the entries do not infringe on third parties’ copyrights, intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights.
• Entries must be original works for which the entrant has all rights, and that have not yet been announced. If these entry conditions are not met, the application may be rejected.
• If there is suspicion of plagiarism concerning a submitted work, the organizer of this competition may request to speak with the applicant as well as request submission of relevant documentation. If these actions do not resolve the suspicion of plagiarism, the organizer may cancel the entry at its discretion.

FAQ

Q – What kind of design can I submit?
A –

• Any genre of design is accepted. This not only includes design involving color and shape, but also design of services and social systems. We are seeking viable proposals that can help achieve the aims of the SDGs.
• This is, however, limited to works that can be put into practical use (e.g., through commercialization).
• Entries must be original and must not have been published or be planned for publication in the home country or abroad, and must not infringe on a third party’s image rights, intellectual property rights, or other rights. If such an infringement is found, the application will be voided, or the award will be revoked, even after it is announced.
• Please note that the organizer of this award is not responsible for any complaints or disputes arising in relation to the entry.

Q – Are there any specific requirements for the entry form?
A – When applying for the initial review, please be sure to use “default format (Word file)”. Works not entered in the default format will not be considered.

Q – How many entries can I submit?
A –

• One person/group can submit as many entries as they like, and in any or all of the themes.
• It is also possible to apply simultaneously for any of the themes and a corporate grant. There may also be multiple awards for one person/group, as each idea will be subject to separate review.

Q – Can I apply as a group?
A – Individuals and groups can apply. When applying as a group, enter the group name and representative name in the indicated format.

Q – What language(s) can I apply in?
A – The initial review can be for entries in Japanese or English. The second review will only be in English.

Q – Can I apply even if I am not specializing in design at school?
A

• Yes, even if you only have an interest in design but do not specialize in it, you can apply.
• Any university student, graduate student, vocational school student, or other student can apply.
• Working students are also eligible to apply.

Q – Can I ask you questions about the contents of my work when I apply?
A – In principle, we will not reply to such questions. Please design freely for any of the themes.

Q – How will you conduct the review?
A

• For both the initial and second reviews, the SDGs Design International Awards 2019 Executive Committee and the award judges will strictly review entries in accordance with the review criteria.
• We will not provide details on the process or specifics of the review.
• Corporate Grants will be independently reviewed by each sponsor company, considering the target audience. Details will be announced on this site after the grant is established.

Q – How will you announce those who pass the first review?
A – We will announce the results on this website at or after the end of November 2019. Those who passed will be notified via the email address they used for their entry.

Q – Will you release any of the works?
A – The organizers may also use works that have passed the first review and progressed to the second in public relations activities related to these awards.

Q – If I make it to the final review, will you pay for the travel and accommodation expenses to attend the final presentation and award ceremony?
A – Applicants who reach the final stage and those who are selected for a corporate grant will, in principle, be expected to attend the award ceremony held on March 14, 2020, at the Kyushu University Ohashi Campus. Travel expenses and accommodation expenses will be included in the award winnings, and the entrants will pay for them independently.

Notices

• Solicited works may be used for publicity activities.
• Entries may be disclosed to each department within the organizer’s organization and its research partners. The organizer may also contact the applicant to ask about the entry.
• All expenses related to the entry (e.g., creating materials, creating actual works) will be borne by the applicant.
• Please be aware the final presentation, announcement, and award ceremony will be filmed and edited, and will be publicly available on the official website.
• If you receive a Special Encouragement Award, you will be required to make a contract with the sponsoring company. If such a contract cannot be concluded, the award may be revoked.
• Entrants must affirm consent to the entry guidelines. Please also note that if the guidelines are not observed, at whatever stage of the entry, the entry may be refused.
• Entered works cannot be returned.
• Inquiries regarding application status will not be replied to.
• Please review the Personal Information Protection Policy for matters in that regard as relates to these awards.