Deceptive Design / A furniture design competition and exhibition

CALL FOR ENTRIES:
The Chicago Chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and the Chicago Furniture Designers Association (CFDA) are collaborating to launch a competition and exhibition of furniture design at the Chicago Cultural Center, opening in October 2008 and running through May 2009. This exhibition will be an extremely high profile show of conceptual furniture and furnishings that challenge convention with innovative concepts and compelling forms.

EXHIBITION THEME:
DECEPTIVE DESIGN - Experiments in furniture.
The iconography of furniture is often straightforward and simple. But if certain qualities of furniture are inherent for reasons of comfort, stability, and manufacturing, where can we diverge from the traditional image and role of furniture? Can furniture actually deceive its users? The focus of this competition is to push the envelope of our common conceptions of furniture and explore new roles furniture could take on. Each of the selected works will maintain an element of deception, be it visual, material, mechanical, or functional.

Perhaps equally deceptive is the design process. Design, the young discipline that it is, is still a mystery to those who aren’t practitioners themselves. As designers, we find ourselves constantly explaining our role, often defending its place or importance. And yet, we often exacerbate this by keeping our sketches or ideas private, only revealing our work in the form of finalized renderings or polished prototypes. Deceptive Design seeks to unveil the creative process and showcase the real magic that takes place as we transform a concept into a reality. All final pieces chosen to be exhibited must be accompanied by a selection of concept sketches, visual or conceptual inspirations, and a brief explanation of the design’s deceptive properties.

Is what you see really what you get?

JURORS:
An esteemed group of notable Chicago designers, architects, and curators are currently being assembled, and will include:
* Zoe Ryan, Neville Bryan Curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago
* Stanley Tigerman, Principal of Tigerman McCurry Architects
* Lee Wietzman of Lee Witzman Furniture/Xyloform Showroom
* Janel Laban, managing editor of Apartment Therapy Chicago
* Scott Wilson, designer and director of MNML

SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Deceptive Design is open to anyone in the greater Chicagoland region from students, to designers, and non-designers. Initial concepts will be juried as rendered concepts or drawings, based on interpretation of the concept and expression of the form. Pieces selected for exhibition must be able to be constructed with a high regard for craft, trueness to original concept, and by the exhibition date.
Please download the Deceptive Design application for further details and information for submission.

TIMELINE:
MAR 26 - Call for entries opens
MAY 27 - Entries delivered (not postmarked)
JUN 06 - Acceptance notifications sent out
OCT 06/07 - Exhibition pieces are finished and delivered.
OCT 10 - Deceptive Design exhibition opens at the Chicago Cultural Center
JAN 04, 2009 - Show closes

CONTACT:
For general inquiries: Chris Brandel, CFDA [cbrndl at gmail.com] or Emily Gensheimer, IDSA [info at idsachicago.org]
For sponsorship opportunities: Chris Brandel, CFDA [cbrndl at gmail.com]
For press inquiries: Sean Scott, CFDA[s2design at flash.net]