Today I went on a quest to find some graphic design competitions to enter. So rather than write them all down, I’ve posted them for you to enjoy. Although a quick google and a bit of digging would get you to the same place, I hope you found these before you had to do that. The competitions are listed in order of approaching entry deadlines, and I intend to enter all of them 5 times. Feel free to add to the list.

Design ONE Condom
Help design the packaging for ONE brand condoms. If your design is selected you’ll win a cash prize and a year’s worth of your condom designs.
Deadline: June 30, 2005
Entry Fee: None

UPDATE 7/1/05 2005 Davey Awards
The Davey Awards is exclusively for smaller agencies, companies, or organizations with annual billings or revenues below certain levels. Work completed since January 1, 2004 is eligible for the 2005 Davey Awards.
Deadline: July 29, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $75

HOW Interactive Design Awards
Winners will be featured in the newly expanded April 2006 issue of HOW and one Best of Show winner will be our guest at the 2006 HOW Design Conference.
Deadline: August 1, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $75

American Design Awards Semi-Annual Design Contests
Open to all graphic and web designers worldwide, including design firms, corporate art departments, and advertising agencies.
Deadline: August 15, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $40

UPDATE 7/8/05 Shift 2006 Calendar Competition
The aim of the competition is to discover fresh creators and support them, Shift provides a platform to show works using a calendar as a medium.
Deadline: September 10, 2005 (9:00PM Japan Time)
Entry Fee: None

HOW International Design Awards
Winners will be featured in the newly expanded April 2006 issue of HOW and one Best of Show winner will be our guest at the 2006 HOW Design Conference.
Deadline: September 15, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $20

Print Digital Design Competition: Interaction 2006
Designers from around the world are invited to submit their most exciting interactive projects as well as print or TV ads promoting Web sites and e-commerce. Winners will be featured in Print’s Digital Design Annual to be published in October 2006.
Deadline: November 1, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $35

I.D. Annual Design Review
I.D. invites you to enter the 2006 Annual Design Review. Winners will be featured in the August 2006 issue of I.D
Deadline: December 1, 2005
Entry Fee: start at $100

Second Annual UniKeep Design Awards Contest (Monthly)
Create a cover for any size UniKeep View Case Binderâ„¢- students, professionals, hobbyists - any art you are willing to share
Deadline: Entries accepted through December 31, 2005
Entry Fee: None

Communication Arts Interactive Media
The most prestigious design competition for interactive media.
Deadline: Jan 13, 2006
Entry Fee: start at $100

circuit

Originally uploaded by jgaylor.

Coming in at a whopping 20.625 inches, this Circuit City receipt for a 14 piece pack of Orbit peppermint chewing gum seems ridiculous. Even if I had purchased a CD or even a laptop, this is quite unnecessary. I’m going to make a guess that we could do better. In a time of recycling and environmental awareness we are handed this sliver of a tree that has to be folded approximately 4 times over to fit in an average size pocket. On this particular version, the Circuit City address, phone number, and time of purchase is printed twice. The logo appears three times. The Web site is mentioned six times. The return policy of six paragraphs is printed once on the front, and then repeated, on the back, in its entirety, three-and-a-half more times. Come on! Can we do better? Someone had to know something to get this store where it is today. I don’t recall any other retail establishment providing me with such an unecessarity.

I do appreciate the flavorful gum that I was able to purchase with a credit card since I didn’t find a one-eighth inch stereo cable for a decent price. Perhaps the prices could be reduced if they weren’t purchasing so much paper and ink for the registers. Oh, and thanks for the bag. It will be useful when I’m carrying my gum on my way to the recycling center.

andy

Originally uploaded by jgaylor.

I recently had some time to look at flickr.com. I’ve been meaning to for a while, and I’m glad I finally did. According to them, it’s, “…almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world…”

I’ve only been playing around with it for about 10 minutes, but I’m already using two of the great features: this blogging feature (which has allowed me to actually type right from the flickr site and have my post end up on my blog here at designfruit), and the ability to add mouse-over notes within the photo. These are just a few ways flickr is beginning to reinvent the way we view and organize our photo albums. Be sure to check the mouse-over notes by first clicking on the photo preview to the right. This will also take you to the flickr site so you to can sign up.

I have a weakness when trying to explain the process behind my designs. Although I’ve been blessed with creating a few good layouts now-and-then, I have yet to overcome articulating why a certain design solution is “great” vs. “average,” and why one particular solution is better than another. When a client asks something like “why did you decide to do this particular treatment here” it’s customary to respond with a solid, eloquent, diplomatic answer that immediately makes you the expert. It could even be something like “based on the information I have from [reference client notes here]: this is my solution. Were you thinking something else?” What’s important at this point is the ability to explain a well researched end-result by incorporating the facts and discoveries of why you chose this particular resolution.

There are many ways to improve this lack in ability, but for now I’ve chosen one. The solution for me is to blog—to practice. By transforming thought to written word about the processes and discoveries of client experiences, I will, over time, continue to gain knowledge and skills for speaking more precise answers. Aha, I made it to two.

My goal for this site is to provide inspiration and resources to others involved in the design industry. I’d like to have some interesting things for my friends to read when they come here as well. I’d also like to improve my writing and communication skills. I think a blog is excellent for stimulating creativity and generating new ideas. Unfortunately I’m horrible at keeping up a blog. But I’m making some changes. I’m in. I’m in for good. Let’s get this blog going. For my own sake mostly. But also for the masses who need my genius guidance. Lol.