International Young Design Entrepreneur (IYDE) 2008 - British Council

MEET THE POLISH FINALIST OF THE IYDE’ 2008 AWARD

More about the International Young Creative Entrepreneur

IYCE PATRONAGE

British Embassy

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	International Young Design Entrepreneur (IYDE) 2008

The British Council and the British Embassy invite young Polish creative arts entrepreneurs to take part in the International Young Design Entrepreneur 2008 Award. The goal of the award is to honour individual achievement and support the potential of young entrepreneurs working in the design sector.

Artistic talent will not be factored into the judging procedure – a finalist will be judged solely on the merit of their entrepreneurial abilities in the industry.

“For me, winning the Polish stage of the Young Design Entrepreneur Award and participating in the UK finals was a very fruitful experience. The best part was the opportunity to meet other people working in the design sector all over the world – including well-known designers from the UK. Such an exchange of experiences and comparing the pleasures and challenges that are built into our work was very interesting and instructive. I am really appreciative of the business and private contacts that I gained during the competition finals. For example, it is very nice to eat lunch in Bangkok with a friend from the design sector. I think that it is worthwhile meeting people with similar interests and passions (peers from the other side of the globe as well as the famous British designer Sir Terence Conran). It is also useful to have contacts in institutions and organisations from the sector, such as D&AD, Design Council, etc.

What else did I gain from the IYDE 2005 Award apart from business contacts? I saw how creative industries, especially design, function in Britain, and learnt how we could develop design sector organisations in Poland. I also could see the design sector and the role of the designer from a new, different perspective. Those experiences still stimulate me to broaden the scope of my work activities; I incorporate within my work new aspects that at first glance may not seem to be directly connected with design.

A very tangible result of my participation in the competition was the conference in Tirana devoted to creative industries in the Balkan region. I had the pleasure to present there the situation of Polish designers.

I am very happy that I was one of the finalists of the International Design Entrepreneur Award.”

Elżbieta Skrzypek, Studio Bakalie, www.studiobakalie.pl

		ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The International Young Design Entrepreneur (IYDE) Award is the third in this year’s series of the British Council competitions for young creative entrepreneurs. It is designed to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the field of design. It is awarded in partnership with 100% Design, London’s international trade fair for furniture and interiors.

In 2008, competitors from the following 10 emerging economies will participate in the IYDE: Egypt, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey. Finalists for the Award will visit the UK in September to undertake a common programme where they will take part in valuable networking both with key UK design sector partners and amongst their IYDE peers.

The IYDE competition consists of two stages: the selection process in Poland and the world finals in the UK. In the Polish stage of the selection process a professional jury will select the best young entrepreneur / manager in the Polish design industry who will then compete for the title of International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 in the world’s finals in the UK.

The IYCE awards are unique in rewarding entrepreneurial ability. We recognise that a finalist may be active as a designer, however his/her work as an artist should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of the design industry in their country. Artistic talent will not be factored into the judging procedure – finalists will be judged solely on the merit of their entrepreneurial abilities in the industry.

You will find the details of the judging process in the rules of the competition.

		PRIZE

The winner of the world finals will win the title of International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year 2008, as well as a financial award (value approx. Ł7,500) which will be used for a professional project whose nature will be agreed with the local British Council office. The aim of the Competition is to build relations between the winning country and the UK.

The financial prize is not the only benefit. There will be a 12 day tour of the UK national design sector, comprising visits to designers, design-lead retailers and manufacturers, publishers and cultural institutions active in the procurement of design and architecture. The finalists will visit London and Glasgow to meet leaders of the design sector. They will also attend 100% Design and London Design Festival. All finalists will be given the opportunity to promote a piece of design from their country at the British Council stand in 100% Design.

		WHO CAN APPLY

Candidates must:

be aged between 25 and 35

be a Polish citizen; proof of citizenship must be presented upon the Organiser’s request

already work in the design sector (as defined below)

be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability in the promotion of design in their country, particularly in a commercial context

through their character, drive and abilities, demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country

be fluent in English

be able to travel to the UK in September 2008 (if they win the Polish stage of the Competition).

		DEFINITION OF THE DESIGN SECTOR

IYDE candidates must already be active professionally in the local design sector, i.e.:

Architecture, interiors and environment

Graphic design: communication, publishing, branding and multimedia

Product design manufacture: furniture, industrial products and craft

Design promotion: exhibitions, events, festivals and retail

Consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined