The Malaysian International Furniture Fair 2010 (MIFF 2010) announced the introduction of a new young designer award, titled THE IDEATION AWARD 2010. While MIFF has been running two awards annually, the Best Presentation Award for excellent booth designs and the Furniture Excellence Award for the innovation and creativity of furniture design, THE IDEATION AWARD aims to offer a platform for students to showcase their talent and innovativeness in furniture design, as it is only open to all students studying design or architecture at a recognised Malaysian institution. Besides that, the Organiser hopes that THE IDEATION AWARD will encourage newcomers to be involved in the furniture design industry and will help promote the development of the Malaysian furniture industry internationally.
THE IDEATION AWARD, held in conjunction with MIFF 2010, is a combination of two words : idea and nation. In line with the birth of 1Malaysia, the name of this competition reflects on creating a country where plenty of good and useful ideas generate, ideas which eventually come into fruition.
The theme for THE IDEATION AWARD 2010 is Creativity, Innovation, Technology and Sustainability. While furniture design has always been about the creation and innovation of sustainable furniture, the competition aims to also give the spotlight to technology as it has become an integral part of everyone’s lives. From providing convenience to lives with technological advancements, technology has become a vital part in people’s everyday lives and furniture designers need to acknowledge it. Hence, one of the conditions for the submission of entries is that the designs have to incorporate technology introduced within the last five years like social media (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter), laptop computers / netbooks, smartphones such as iPhone, flip video cameras, video game consoles (Nintendo Wii, X-Box, Playstation) and the iPod Touch (use its accelerometer) and iPod Nano.
Entries will be judged with the following criteria : concept, creativity, technology, material usage, marketability, design impression, presentation, ergonomics, safety and sustainability. The panel of judges which consists of local and international judges, will be headed by Mr. Ian Davies (Managing Director, Arcradius Consulting). Finalists for THE IDEATION AWARD 2010 will have a chance to showcase their product designs during MIFF 2010, taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Putra World Trade Centre and the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre from 2 – 6 March. The announcement of winners will be held during the MIFF 2010 Prize Presentation Ceremony on Thursday, 4 March 2010. Ideation’s first prize winner will receive RM 3,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate, second place winner takes home RM 2,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate, and the third prize winner will receive RM 1,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate. THE IDEATION AWARD 2010 is open for registration on 15 November 2009, and the closing date for entries is 30 January 2010. For more information about THE IDEATION AWARD 2010, visit www.miff.com.my