Ponoko Jewelry Design Contest!!!

I have for years now coveted jewelry made of laser cut acrylic. Ever since the first time I set foot inside the Tatty Divine shops in London my mind was racing with the possibilities. I see the laser cut jewelry in all shapes and sizes now including not only acrylic but mirror and wood and sometimes a combo of both! Here are a few of my favorites…

This Cinderalla inspired necklace is by my acrylic idols Tatty Divine.


Kid Viskous is one of my current favorite jewelry designers. If I don't get one of these Friendly Forest Necklaces soon I might not be able to stand it! They also make amazing name plate necklaces. I just scored myself one that says Jennifer!


Another gorgeous example of combining the acrylic and the wood laser cuts are these necklaces by Bethan Laura Wood.


Many o’ times I have looked into having some designs made for Naughty Secretary Club but again and again I could never find someone to make the designs, never got around to it, it was too much trouble – you know the drill. That was until I came across an awesome new website called Ponoko. All you have to do is think up your amazing design and they will not only cut the shape for you they will also make it and even ship it out to customers if you want. Like Whoa! I am having some florescent green shapes of Texas cut out with hearts over Austin to sell at the Bust Magazine Party during SXSW that are going to rock your face off they are so amazing. Look for secretarial shapes coming soon!



As if this is all not exciting enough there is a jewelry contest involved! If you too have pontificated what amazing design you could whip up and have made into a stellar piece of jewelry, wait no longer. Ponoko is having themselves a jewelry design contest for 10 days only and I am one of their guest judges! You know I am partial to big, tack-a-liscious, colorful and all around fun jewelry so surprise us with something amazing.

Here are all the details on the contest….

Your challenge is to create inspired and evocative jewelry on a laser cutter – within 10 days!

You can treat material in a variety of ways using a laser-cutter. You can cut shapes and mark patterns on the surface. You can create a single 2D piece or something more complex assembled from a number of parts.

Laser surface treatments can be a graphic in nature or a texture. There are infinite possibilities for treating the surface of a material to add value and interest.

Jewelry need not be 2D. You could make 3D jewelry using layers of material connected in an interesting way. Think about how multiple pieces can be combined to create an interesting design.

Attention to detail, material combinations, connections, production feasibility and quality will be key to making your design stand out.

Up to $10,000 in prizes

Up for grabs:

* Open round
o The designers of the top 25 entries get their product made for free – that’s materials, making and shipping
o Plus they’ll be invited to submit their entry into the final round

* Invitation round
o The top 10 designs win US$300 cash
o Plus there’s an additional Grand Prize of US$1,000 cash for the overall winner

Design requirements:

* It must be possible for Ponoko to make the main component of your design.
* Designs must be new (i.e. not already hosted on Ponoko).
* You can only use materials in the Ponoko materials catalog.
* You can use extras such as hooks, chains, clasps, pins etc (supplied and assembled by you).
* If you submit multiple designs, they must be unique. Please don’t just submit iterations of the same design.
* Designs may be as simple or as complex as you want.

Judging:

There are two phases to the judging process:

1) Open Round – Submit your product design idea

The first round will be judged on a graphic representation and a description of your idea. Entries will be accepted between 1 March 2008 and 10 March 2008.

Here’s how: Upload images of your idea into your MyPonoko account. The images need to show what your design looks like (sketches, renders, photos, 3D drawings) plus you need to include a description of up to 200 words that communicates your design concept. (See ‘How to enter’ below for more information about submitting your design.)

2) Invitation Round – Submit your finished product

If your design is selected among the top 25 entries, we will make it and ship it to you free of charge. We will also invite you to enter your design in the final round. Entries for this round close on 28 March 2008.

The final round will be judged on photos and text description of your completed product.

Judging criteria

Entries/finalists will be judged on the following criteria, in no particular order:

1. Innovation in design concept
2. Clarity and resolution of design
3. Originality
4. Presentation and photography
5. Interesting use of material(s)
6. Attention to detail
7. Production feasibility

How to enter

Open Round – from March 1st to 10th 2008, you’ve got 10 days!

Go to your MyPonoko account and upload the following elements into your Showroom:

1. Product design .eps files
2. Photos/images representing the final product
3. Up to 200 words describing your idea
4. Enter the tag “Competition1Open”

The key here is getting your idea across. 3D sketches and photos of cardboard models are great ways to show what something will look like.

Remember, your entry must be submitted between March 1 and March 10 2008. This means you have just 10 days to come up with an idea and upload it into your Ponoko Showroom. This is the challenge – we want to see how good you really are!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to entering the Open Round

What happens next?

Monday 17 March 2008 - We announce the winners of the Open Round

Congratulations! The top 25 entries into the Open Round will be made and shipped for free and go through to the final round.

Friday 21 March 2008 – We will have delivered the top 25 products to the Open Round winners

If you’re one of our Open Round winners, we’ll be busy making and shipping your stuff to you. Once you get it, you will have about a week to assemble your product, add any finishing touches, photograph it and upload the new photos into your Ponoko Showroom.

Friday 28 March 2008 - Entries close for the Invitation Round

Go to your MyPonoko account and upload the following elements into your Showroom:

1. Photos of your final assembled product
2. The tag “Competition1Finalist”

Tip: Photos on a plain white or black background look best. Use a tripod if possible and avoid using a flash. If your camera has a macro function using this will help with any close up photos or detail shots.

Monday March 31st 2008 - We announce the winners of the Invitation Round

Congratulations! The top 10 finalists will win US$300 and the grand prize winner will receive US$1,000.