Here are the winners!
1. Category
Products
Kumputie-sofa
Minna Piironen,
/ Aalto University (FInland)
2. Category
Actions
Mari marathon, Marion & Jones
Iwa Herdensjö,
Ida Pettersson,
/ Konstfack (Sweden)
Marimekko mobile shop, SaMa
Matti Liimatainen,
Satu Maaranen,
/ Aalto University (Finland)
3. Category
Service
Live pattern, Confetti
Chinami Oshima,
Juri Hayashi,
Nitta Keiko,
/ Tama Art University (Japan)
Marimekko and the Department of Design at the Aalto University School of Art and Design Present - The International Marimekko Design Competition
This year, Marimekko turns 60, and we want to celebrate by creating something new. We decided to invite our friends at Aalto University and students from some of the world's other top design schools to help us out.
What we're looking for is inspiring, distinctive ideas that express Marimekko's spirit of doing things together in a new way. The best ideas will be awarded an 8,000-euro prize.
So if the video-brief inspires you, look through the rest of the site, grab a friend, and start brainstorming: the competition starts now!
Marimekko and students love creating new things.
Why not do it together?
Who can participate?
All students of Aalto University (Finland)
Design students enrolled at the following schools:
Design Academy Eindhoven (the Netherlands)
Konstfack (Sweden)
Parsons The New School for Design (USA)
Royal College of Art (UK)
Tama Art University (Japan)
You're welcome to participate as an individual or as a team.
The Assignments
I only want to bring people together so that they get to know each other and gain something from one another.
- Armi Ratia, founder of Marimekko
Surprise us. Surprise yourself. Come up with a novel concept in one of the categories of life below.
Products - for living, not pretending. For good everyday life.
The product or group of products should relate to dressing and/or accessorising for everyday life, or to the living environment from the perspective of decorating the home, or spending time, doing things, or enjoying life together.
ACTIONS, events, and encounters generated by aesthetic thinking.
Events and encounters should be consumer-oriented in nature and possible to realise in Marimekko shops and/or other clearly relevant contexts.
Service. Just to make things run even better.
By service, we mean activity that in one way or another is related to Marimekko products and consumers' everyday lives.
Tips
- Start from Marimekko's 60th anniversary theme: "Why Not Together?"
- Design for people who refuse to be bored, who are surrounded by vitality – like the members of the Marimekko Tribe.
- Think "relevant today and tomorrow".
- Have a look at Marimekko's history and product line for inspiration, but don't limit yourself to what we've done in the past.
- Play around, have fun!
Prizes
A prize of 8,000 euros will be awarded to the winning team or individual in each of the three categories.
Even if your idea doesn't win, Marimekko may be interested in redeeming it for a sum of 3,500 euros.
The rights to winning and redeemed submissions transfer to Marimekko. For more information, see the Competition Programme and Competition Rules.
Did you know?
Marimekko and the Aalto University School of Art and Design have a long history of co-operation. Many of Marimekko's best-known prints are by school alumni.
Competition schedule
The competition kick-off will be held March 15 at the Aalto University Sampo-sali, Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki. Can't make it? Don't worry, all the information you need is in the video-brief and here on this site.
15.03.2011
Competition begins. Video-brief at 6:30 PM Helsinki time on the competition website. Simultaneous kick-off in Helsinki.
06.05.2011
Phase I deadline.
All entries must be delivered to competition secretary by 4 PM.
24.05.2011
Phase I results announced at 9:30 AM at Marimekko's new Marikulma shop in Helsinki and the competition website.
31.08.2011
Phase II deadline.
All entries must be delivered to competition secretary by 4 PM.
14.09.2011
Winners announced and prizes awarded at 9 AM.
31.10.2011 - Competition officially ends.
Marimekko can redeem submitted works until this date.
Competition Phases
Phase I - Starts March 15, 2011
- Submit your idea visually and/or in writing (text length max one A4 (8 1/2 x 11") page).
- In categories 2 and 3, you may submit your idea purely in writing.
- The written portion of the submission must be in English.
Deadline: May 6, 2011 at 4 PM Helsinki time
Phase II - starts May 24, 2011
- Category 1:
Submit your idea as a prototype. - Categories 2 and 3:
Submit your idea as an illustrative example. - Any text must be in English.
- You may ask Aalto University teaching staff to help you refine your ideas.
Deadline: August 31, 2011 at 4 PM Helsinki time
A maximum of five proposals per category will be selected for Phase II.
For each proposal selected to continue to Phase II, Marimekko will pay a 400-euro allowance to cover the costs of preparing the prototype or presentation.
IMPORTANT: Submitted works must be new and previously unpublished. They must never have been in production and cannot be part of your coursework.
Submitting your work
Phase I
Make sure the correct competition category is clearly marked on your entry.
IMPORTANT: To ensure anonymity, mark your entry with a pseudonym, not your name. Attach a sealed envelope labelled with the same pseudonym to the entry. Make sure your name and contact information are inside the envelope.
Phases I and II
Mail your entry in to or drop it off with the competition secretary by the deadline.
If you're mailing in your entry, make sure to leave enough time for delivery by deadline!
When we work together, we can do whatever. - This is the philosophy of collaboration that has guided the way we work at Marimekko for the past 60 years.
Greetings from the Jury
The Jury:
Ilse Crawford
Curator of Design Academy Eindhoven
Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi
Academician, Honorary Doctor of the
Aalto University School of Art and Design
Pekka Himanen
Philosopher
Pirjo Hirvonen
Head of the Department of Design,
Professor, Aalto University School of
Art and Design
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen
Creative Director, Marimekko
Tuuli Mattelmäki
Senior Researcher, Aalto University School of Art and Design
Niina Nenonen
Product Director, Marimekko
Timo Rissanen
Assistant Professor, Parsons The New School for Design
Tadashi Takahashi
Professor, Tama Art University, Japan
Criteria:
The jury will be looking for ideas that are:
- distinctive
- high-quality
- mindful of sustainable development
- relevant across cultures and continents
- a good match for Marimekko's product range and business.
Faq
Can I participate in more than one category? Can I participate more than once?
We want as many good ideas as possible: you can participate as many times as you want and in as many categories as you want.
Can I email in my submission?
Sorry, all submissions must be sent in by postal mail or dropped off in person with the competition secretary. Be sure and read the instructions for submitting your work.
Can I participate in more than one category? Can I participate more than once?
We want as many good ideas as possible: you can participate as many times as you want and in as many categories as you want.
Can I email in my submission?
Sorry, all submissions must be sent in by postal mail or dropped off in person with the competition secretary. Be sure and read the instructions for submitting your work.
Are we allowed to use Marimekko fabrics?
You're welcome to use an existing Marimekko fabric if doing so is essential to your entry.
Is it possible to participate on a completely anonymous basis?
No, but your anonymity is guaranteed during both Phase I and II judging. See the competition rules.
Can I participate if I am a postgraduate student?
Even if you already have a degree, you are allowed to participate, as long as you are still a student at Aalto University or one of the partner institutions invited to participate.
Can the competition team include non-students?
All members of the team must be students at Aalto University or one of the partner institutions.
Do I need to register for the competition?
There is no separate registration process. Submitting a Phase I entry according to the instructions registers you in the competition.
I graduate before the competition ends. Can I participate?
As long as you are a registered student during the spring of 2011, you are allowed to participate. Graduating prior to the end of the competition does not disqualify you.
Designing for Marimekko has been a dream of mine, but I am not a student at Aalto University or one of the invited partner institutions. Can I still participate?
Unfortunately not, this particular competition is open to invitees only.
Participate!
That's most of the practical information that you need to know. Still, before you begin, download and read the Competition Programme (pdf) and Competition Rules (pdf).
Then get to work and have fun!
Send your submissions
and any questions to the competition secretary:
Amanuensis
Helena Suonsilta
Aalto University School of Art and Design
Department of Design, Room 6102
Hämeentie 135C
00076 Aalto
FINLAND
tel. +358 (0)9 470 30333
helena.suonsilta@aalto.fi
GOOD LUCK! We can't wait to see what you come up with.