Make a powerful, self-affirming statement in any African language. Submit your best original poster and t-shirt designs, and your work could WIN a place in the#D54 #KeepLanguagesAlive Collection, on show for 1 day only in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday 22 October 2019. Top-5 entries to be produced and sold on a profit-sharing basis. Winners get a share of $2000 in instant cash! Ready? The new, extended deadline is 14 OCTOBER 2019. For details, visit http://designfiftyfour.africa
We are delighted to invite you to participate in the D54 challenge, a first of its kind in South Africa.
In this inaugural year, under the theme #KeepLanguagesAlive, we ask a select list of accomplished designers living and working in Africa—joined by a continent-wide, online community of young professionals and enthusiasts—to make powerful, self-affirming statements in African languages of their liking.
See some of the entries on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
The request is for participants to submit their best original poster and T-shirt designs, and stand a chance to have their work win a place in the D54 #KeepLanguagesAlive Collection, on show for one day only, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday 22 October 2019.
The top 5 entries, as judged by an all-star panel, are to be produced, distributed, marketed, and then sold on D54’s online platforms, and through partner retail outlets, under the D54 label, starting at the end of November.
Commercial arrangements are on a profit-sharing basis.
Furthermore, winners get a share of 2000 USD in instant cash: a grand prize of 1000 USD, second prize of 650 USD, and a third prize of 350 USD.
Entries close on Monday 14 October, 2019.
This model is born of the observation that when designers in Africa create original products to sell, they often need to find product development, production, distribution and marketing partners who can help them reach global markets, so that they can earn a decent living from their creations.
To this end, D54 is uniquely structured to bring together an annual pan-African design contest with the value chain that takes a product all the way from designed to sold!
The founders, Kelo Kubu and Ithateng Mokgoro, are known for their work in pioneering and helping to grow the famed TEDx platform in South Africa. They are also founding members of Mandela Poster Project, the global design initiative that celebrated Madiba’s 95th birthday with posters from around the world.
D54 is supported by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions—the American chain of African-themed water parks—and Amacreatives, a six thousand people strong online community of independent creatives.
We very much hope that you will come and make history with us.
Warmest wishes,
