Open call for Unika 2025

Name: Feed
Price range: $

Designers’ Saturday invites designers to participate in the open call for Unika exhibition 2025. We are seeking creative, passionate designers and artisans who wish to explore the theme of sustainable utilization of local timber. 8 participants will be selected to exhibit their final product/object at the Unika exhibition during Designers' Saturday, Norway's biggest design event from September 12th to 14th, 2025. The exhibition will be showcased to a diverse audience of industry professionals and journalists, both domestic and international.

Workshop

To kickstart the design process, all participants must attend a workshop scheduled from September 5th to 8th, 2024, at the production facilities of Hamran, located on the Southern coast of Norway. Hamran specializes in kitchen and furniture production, sourcing materials locally and maintaining production within the region. During three intense days, participants will acquaint themselves with production methods, work on a given theme, conceptualize, and explore the material in collaboration with skilled craftsmen from Hamran.

Who can participate?

Designers and artisans with a minimum bachelor's degree in design, art, architecture or carpentry.

Terms

Timber for the prototype will be covered by Hamran. Costs for other materials and craftsman labor will be covered by the participant. The participant retains the rights to the design and is free to pursue further development after the exhibition concludes.

Participants must attend the workshop from September 5th to 8th, 2024. Accommodation, facilitation, and meals will be provided. Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the workshop (specific pickup points will be specified).

Documentation

It is expected that participants document their design process outside the workshop. Designers’ Saturday will document the workshop and provide press images and a press package prior to Designers’ Saturday 2025. We reserve the right to freely use images and video material taken of the objects/products during the process and text about the product/designer in promoting the exhibition.

Designers must also be present during the Designers’ Saturday exhibition in Oslo September 12th to 14th, and contribute to the setup and teardown of the exhibition.

Application requirements

Please submit the following:

1. A brief presentation of yourself as a designer and your motivation for participation (maximum 500 words in PDF format).

2. Portfolio (maximum 10 projects in PDF format, maximum 6 MB). Alternatively, a link to an online portfolio/website can be provided.

Applications should be sent to [email protected] with "APPLICATION UNIKA 2025" in the subject line. Deadline for applications is June 15th, 2024. All applicants will receive a response by mid-July.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Instagram: @unikaauction

Our external jury consists of:

Kirsten Visdal, Head of the Jury Creative advisor, curator, and designer
Jonas Stokke, jury member Product designer at Jonas Stokke
Irija Øwre, jury member Art advisor and Director at Format Oslo
Sigurd Strøm, jury member Professor at Olo National Academy of the Arts
Janne R. Werdal, jury member Sales- and marketing director, Hamran

Our external jury consists of:

Kirsten Visdal, Head of the Jury Creative advisor, curator, and designer

Jonas Stokke, jury member Product designer at Jonas Stokke

Irija Øwre, jury member Art advisor and Director at Format Oslo

Sigurd Strøm, jury member Professor at Olo National Academy of the Arts

Janne R. Werdal, jury member Sales- and marketing director, Hamran