Deadline: March 28, 2018 (International Applicants) / May 14, 2018 (New Zealand Applicants)
Entries are invited for the World of WearableArt (WOW) Designer Competition 2018. The WOW Design Competition is a renowned international design competition that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world. Using the human body as a blank canvas designers create works of wearable art to be exhibited in the annual WOW Awards Show.
For 30 years, World of WearableArt has bewitched and beguiled. Now, for this very special anniversary event, they’re once again calling on designers, artists and creators everywhere to bring to life the worlds that live in their mind for this truly international design competition.
Perhaps you have entered before, and have been waiting for this special commemoration to return. Perhaps you enter regularly—in which case, the six worlds that have been created this year provide new scope for your art. You may never have entered before. What an extraordinary occasion on which to make your debut. In three decades, the community of designers, artists and creators have changed how audiences see life. They have put themselves on stage in a theatrical spectacular for the whole world to see. Brilliantly. Intelligently. Generously.
Bring the world of your imagination. Celebrate your creativity!
Prizes
The 2018 WOW Design Competition offers over $170,000 in prize money. All prizes below are in New Zealand dollars.
- Supreme WOW® Award: The most prestigious Award of all; given to the entry that the judges consider to be the most exception overall.
- Winner receives NZD30,000
- Runner-up receives NZD10,000
- Dame Suzie Moncrieff Award: Chosen by WOW Founder, Dame Suzie Moncrieff, as the garment that epitomises the WOW spirit.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- Section Prizes
- Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Reflective Surfaces and Under the Microscope:
- First prize: NZD6,000
- Second prize: NZD3,000
- Third prize: NZD1,500
- Bizarre Bra
- First prize: NZD4,000
- Second prize: NZD2,000
- Third prize: NZD1,000
- Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Reflective Surfaces and Under the Microscope:
- First-time Entrant Award: This award recognises the creativity and originality of an entry submitted by a first-time entrant.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- Student Innovation Award: This award recognises an entry submitted by a current tertiary student or recent graduate.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- Sustainability Award: This award recognises a designer who demonstrates inventive use of recycled materials in their garment. At least 85% of the garment must be made from recycled materials.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- Wearable Technology Award: This award recognises a designer that explores and applies the most original and innovative technology to the construction and/or function of their wearable art garment.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- New Zealand Design Award: Acknowledging the creativity and excellence of New Zealand designers.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- International Awards: Acknowledging the creativity and excellence of international designers, a prize of NZD5,000 is awarded to the best international design from each of the following regions:
- United Kingdom & Europe
- Americas
- Asia
- Australia & Pacific
In addition, an overall international winner is selected and receives NZD6,000.
- Weta Workshop Emerging Designer Award: The winner of this Award is chosen by Sir Richard Taylor, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Weta Workshop, from across all categories of the competition. The winner will have the unique opportunity to spend time behind-the-scenes at Weta Workshop, and receives NZD5,000, flights from anywhere in the world plus accommodation in Wellington for up to four weeks.
- Winner receives NZD5,000
- Runner-up receives NZD1,000
- Cirque du Soleil Invited Artisan Award: Chosen by a judge from Cirque du Soleil, this award is presented to an established designer whose entry demonstrates outstanding use of new techniques or technologies. The winner receives NZD5,000 and will undertake a four-week residency at Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, Canada. Flights from anywhere in the world and accommodation are included.
Eligibility
- The contest is open to anyone over the age of 18, as at March 28, 2018;
- For an entry to be eligible for the First-Time Entrant Award, all members of a design team must be first-time entrants;
- To be eligible for the Student Innovation Award, all members of a design team must be current tertiary students or have graduated within the 12 months before March 28, 2018 and each must provide a copy of their most recent student identification when the garment is submitted to WOW™;
- To be eligible for the Sustainability Award, 85% of the garment must be made from recycled materials and, at the allocated place in the online entry form, the designer must provide a written explanation of how and to what extent they have recycled the materials used in their entry;
- To be eligible for the Wearable Technology Award, the garment must demonstrate innovative and original use of technology in construction and/or processes and the designer must provide a written explanation of how and to what extent they have used technology innovatively in their entry, at the allocated place in their online entry form;
- For an entry to be eligible for the New Zealand Design Award, all members of a design team must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand;
- For an entry to be eligible for one of the Wellington International Regional Awards, all members of a design team must be citizens or permanent residents of the same region: United Kingdom & Europe, Americas, Asia, Australia & Pacific.
Application
- Interested applicants should complete the registration here.
- Applicants can register as a team. Every designer within a team must be registered but only ONE member needs to create and submit the entry on their behalf.
For more information, visit World of WearableArt Designer Competition.
