Aarni's personal notes on design
In 2007 I entered a product design competition. The requirement was that the accessory had to be made from 1.5 to 2 mm steel plate. My idea -The 3-board- was a triangular thing that had many uses. I did not get a prize, but it was fun to participate.
Copyright 2007 Aarni Heiskanen, all rights reserved.
Many designers feel compelled to participate in competitions. Some are striving for a career breakthrough. Many see competitions as learning experiences, or as a way to enhance their brand.
When I was actively involved in architectural design I took part in a few competitions, but not too seriously. I learned later on from the most successful designers how they managed to get top ratings. They said that you should participate in lots of competitions, all the time, and create a systematic team process for them.
Lately I've chosen design challenges of a smaller scale. A couple of years ago I won the second prize in a drawing competition that was arranged by a software company. My design was published in a computer illustration magazine and as a part of the software package.
In 2007 I took part in a design competition of a sheet metal manufacturer. The task was to create any design item that could be made from their product. The competition was announced online as many others nowadays. I suggested a triangular multi-purpose accessory, 3-board. It did not win a prize, but I didn't mind. Doing something different is often more rewarding than the end result.
There are certainly people whose business depends on competition success. For them design competitions are serious endeavors, but hopefully still fun.
Image copyright 2007 Aarni Heiskanen
