Design Exchange (DX), and RBC Foundation announce the fourth edition of the RBC Canadian Emerging Designer Competition – the only competition of its kind in Canada, where innovative design and entrepreneurialism intersect.
This national competition, now celebrating its fourth edition, provides an unparalleled opportunity for emerging Canadian designers to gain exposure while celebrating the immense and diverse design talent in Canada. We are looking to celebrate the best of the best among Canada’s emerging designers. From digital, interior and graphic design to architecture and fashion design, this national competition provides a game-changing opportunity for emerging Canadian designers to garner recognition and elevate their practices.
A star-studded panel of Canadian and international designers, culture, and innovation leaders will review the submissions and select an overall winner and a roster of honourable mentions from across the country. Previous jurors have included Moooi’s Marcel Wanders, Indigo’s Heather Reisman, Facebook’s Jordan Banks, and Nancy Bendsten of INFORM in Vancouver.
The winner will be announced in June in Toronto.
The Prize
2018-19 Overall Winner — The prestigious winner of RBC Canadian Emerging Designer Competition will receive a cash prize of $20,000 to support the growth of their practice. Plus, the winner will receive a personalized mentorship package and develop an exhibition of their work at DX, opening in June.
Honourable Mention – Up to 13 honourable mentions will be selected by the jury and receive a cash prize. These selected submissions will have the opportunity to show completed work at Design Exchange and participate as speakers and expert mentors for public and education programs.
People’s Choice Award — The People’s Choice Award recognizes the public’s favourite submission. Previous winners have included Eric Chan, digital artisan and founder of EEPMON and Studio North, a Calgary-based architecture studio.
Previous Winners
In 2013-14, Lukas Peet was awarded as the overall winner and later co-founded ANDlight, a lighting company in Vancouver with clients that include Sun Life Financial and Shopify. Plus, he has designed works for New York’s Roll & Hill and has gone on to win several other awards.
In 2015-16, Alexander Josephson of Partisans was selected as the overall winner and has continued to make headlines with his work at Partisans, the architecture firm that counts Toronto’s Bar Raval, Georgian Bay’s Grotto Sauna, and the revitalization of Toronto’s Union Station among its best-known projects.
Last year, Peggy Sue Deaven-Smiltnieks, founder of Peggy Sue Collection, was chosen as the overall winner and has continued to be a key player in the Canadian fashion industry. Her sustainable approach to design and production has earned her a nomination for The Fashion Impact Award at the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, and she won Fashion Takes Action’s Design Forward Award.
Participation is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents across all design disciplines, between the ages of 18 and 35. Creatives are asked to submit a digital copy of their portfolio, a copy of their CV, and a short biography. Entries are now being accepted until the deadline. Register and submit by April 15, 2019. More information is available via the DX website, linked here.