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This competition has now closed. You can follow the story of the items shortlisted for display in howies on the folksy blog

The Howies & Folksy Design Festival Competition

We're teaming up with those marvelous people at howies to run a competition alongside London Design Festival week.

The Brief

David, one of the founders of howies has come up with the following brief:

The theme is from this line: life is complicated. Sport is simple.

I am interested in the contrast between the two. In life we have to contend with all sorts: the commute in, bills, email, facebook, politics, crap bosses, hangovers, stress, too much information, not enough time, credit crunch, the bank etc etc.

But the simple-ness of sport remains. You simply get on your bike and just ride. You get on your snowboard and let gravity take you down to the bottom. You go for a run and forget the day that was.

I like the difference between the two. How one has got a lot more complicated and yet sport remains as simple as it always was. Simple stuff. Away from the stresses and strains of modern day life. The closest we come to some kind of freedom.

The theme can be highlighted in graphics, materials, shapes, models, photos, making something etc. Whatever you think sums that up I guess.

My advice is go for a ride, a run, a ride on the old skateboard and think where that takes you in your head.

Good luck. David Hieatt (Founder, howies)

What David is getting at and what your 'thing' needs to reflect is how sport or activity is a means to freedom in the modern age. The brief is quite neatly visualised in an image from the howies website:

howies will select a shortlist of 11 pieces for display in their flagship Carnaby St. store. This will be publicised through London Design Week. There the public will vote on the pieces on display and a winner chosen. It's a great opportunity to exhibit to the the design community (as well as the public) and receive some recognition for your work.

How It Works

Right, so here's what you need to do and what you need to know:

You must be a registered user of Folksy
You must list the competition item on Folksy.

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Only new listings will be considered for entry
You can list a maximum of three (3) items through your Folksy account
Existing work may be submitted if it meets the brief
The item description should be used to explain how the item fits the brief - why you made what you made.
All items must be listed by the 17th September at 9am. Not long!
howies will choose their favourite 11 items for display in the Carnaby St. store. These items will be voted on by the general public from the 18th-23rd September.
The winner will be announced on the 24th Sept and the winner will receive £150 in cash with the ten runners up receiving £25 worth of howies vouchers
Folksy will pay for any costs of postage etc. of shortlisted items and will liase with makers to get the items to howies

This is a great opportunity to get some wider recognition for your talent and get exposure to a well respected and successful retail brand. Through the partnership with the London Design Festival you will also get lots of exposure to the wider design community.

Have fun!

If you have any queries please contact us at: support@folksy.com