This is the second edition of the international design biennale, Design Match, which will be held in countries of middle Europe in year 2008. After the successful first edition, the Design Match 2006 CZE:SVK, that was presented as a part of the Art&Interior fair, there will be four countries fighting: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.

The mission of the Design Match is to show design work to wide public, to multiply related activities. Design Match is the only non-commercial show of design that has an ambition of long continuation and to place the Czech design next to its foreign colleagues. This exhibition gathers different countries who have historical connections, traditions and heritage. Creates a place for friendly confrontations and becomes a match. The designer is a player and friends of design are fans. The foundation of the 2008 edition is a production of Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy.

This edition is founded on the tradition of designs of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy. The motto of this year’s project is integration of European countries into a shared space. The idea of Design Match connects to the historical similarity with integration of Austria-Hungary. This selection and inspiration by the monarchy is not accidental. When one says Austria-Hungary and design, it associates Thonet. The story of the Thonet Company and family will help us to understand their concept better. The exhibition is prepared with a wide research project in cooperation with the Muzeum of Decorative Arts in Prague and Budapest.

Focus of this exhibition: There will be groups of four items, each one of a different country and a clear parallel leading to an object produced in times of Austria-Hungary.

There will be a Thonet chair number 14, winner of the era, welcoming visitors at the entrance. Surrounded with four current designs of four different countries.

This exhibition will begin in the Fair Palace of the National gallery in Prague on the 13th March 2008 on mezzanin of the Small walkway. The exhibition will then continue in Slovakia, where it will be presented on two places, Austria and Hungary, where it will be presented in the Museum of Decorative Arts as a part of Budapest Design Week, the biggest design event of Hungary. The exhibition will travel all year long.

Project Design Match 2008 will present current designs of 120 designers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.

What if the White House, the ultimate architectural symbol of political power, were to be designed today?

On occasion of the election of the 44th President of the United States of America, Storefront for Art and Architecture, in association with Control Group, challenge you to design a new residence for the world's most powerful individual. The best ideas, designs, descriptions, images, and videos will be selected by some of the world's most distinguished designers and critics and featured in a month-long exhibition at Storefront for Art and Architecture in July 2008. All three winners will be flown to New York to collect their prizes at the opening party.

The original White House design, by James Hoban, was the result of a competition held in 1792, wherein George Washington, quickly selected Hoban's design over the other 8 entries. He was not overjoyed at the design, and recommended it by made larger, with more detail, and added a grand reception hall, the East Room. Over the centuries, presidents have added other rooms, facilities and even entire new wings, turning the White House into the labyrinthine complex it is today. In light of Washington's hasty review of the proposals, White House Redux entries will be carefully considered in historical, modern, and future context, by the most critical minds and acclaimed thinkers in design today.

What would a White House designed in 2008, election year for the 44th President of the United States, look like?

Register now and send your ideas for the Presidential Palace of the future!
Deadline: April 20, 2008

RNID, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, is the largest charity working to change the world for the UK’s 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. They run the 'Don't Lose The Music campaign'.

We are exposed to more noise in our daily lives than previous generations. From research carried out with over 1000 young music fans in 2005, it was found that of the 56% of 16-30 year olds who regularly go to clubs and gigs, 76% of them have experienced ringing in their ears and/or dullness of hearing after a night out - the warning signs of permanent hearing damage.

'Don’t Lose the Music' is not about preaching to young people or telling them not to listen to music, and it’s not about reducing noise levels at concert venues or nightclubs. Instead, it aims to advise young people on how to listen to loud music safely. One way to protect hearing is by wearing earplugs. Good quality earplugs don’t block your hearing; they attenuate the sound, which means the decibel level reaching your ear is reduced but most importantly, you can still hear the music you are listening to. RNID believes that this ‘improved sound’ message is more appropriate to the market than ‘protection. If this approach were applied to the product design, branding and marketing of earplugs, more people would use them. 

The challenge:
Can you make earplugs a must-have item for music lovers?

RNID wants you to design an earplug that will appeal to 16 to 30 year old music fans. The winning entry will demonstrate a great new design, and will also show how the packaging and marketing of the product will enhance the new product.

The main aim of this project is to investigate whether it is possible to do for earplugs what has been done for spectacles in recent years, and turn a medical product into a desirable one. 

To learn more about the project and to find out how to submit your entry read the competition brief PDF.

Submissions deadline: 29th February 2008

cause/affect is a biennial graphic design competition which celebrates the work of designers and organizations who set out to positively impact our society and communities. All work entered in the competition must promote or support social good and actively engage in enriching our lives. It can raise awareness about a cause or condition. It can celebrate an arts institution or event.

This is a competition for do-gooders, who do good work. And it is open to all.
Entry deadline: November 9 2007

cause/affect is an initiative of the San Francisco chapter of the AIGA.