The aim of competition, held every two years, is to encourage designers to consider paper as an important aspect of design. Just as the use of colour, balance, photography and illustration is part of the design process, paper - with its choice of stock, printing techniques and finishes - is another tactile tool at the designer's disposal
The SmörgåsBox, “hosted by Maria Mojaji”, is based on the original idea of a Swedish smorgasbord and is the entry form to guide and inspire designers to execute and enter superior designs, printed on one of the Antalis' paper ranges, into the Art of Design 2010. The company's consultants will gather the best of the best pieces, created and printed between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2010, which must reach it no later than 23 July 2010.
Each folder within the SmörgåsBox represents the eight Art of Design categories and the etiquette folder contains the rules and entry forms.
The categories are:
The first three places in each category will be rewarded with certificates and there is a Grand Prix Prize with the opportunity to design work for Antalis and a trip to New York worth R50 000. One of the highlights for 2010 is the student category, which aims to encourage students to learn the art of typography by using the unique font glyphs provided by Joshua Darden from New York.
At the various breakfast launches, Antalis marketing manager Caroline Coughlan showed how paper, the paper engineer and the printer bring design visions to life, while challenging the audiences to motivate and inspire the judges with their work.
“Our aim is to inspire thinking, big ideas, paper usage and beautiful presentation. To reward originality and design excellence with a particular focus on the creative use of paper,” said Coughlan.
“The ‘SmörgåsBox' was crafted allowing the natural beauty of the paper's qualities to be maximised. It is full of delightful surprises. These include Maria Mojaji's useful tips on hosting and etiquette, prints of Hazel Buchan's five beautiful paper sculptures commissioned by Breinstorm for Antalis, various printing techniques, unique fonts from Darden Studio and delicious recipes for an eight-course meal.”
“Of course you will have to share the glory,” advised Coughlan. “No design guru is an island and you can't pull this off without your printers, so a special certificate will be awarded to the printers of the winning entries.”
The SmörgåsBox was designed and illustrated by Eben Keun, Joanna Peters and their team.
