Competition Brief

Create a short video in the form of a Public Service Announcement on the topic of genuine design and the problem of knock-offs. Use concrete examples to demonstrate why furniture designers deserve the right to protect their work against unauthorized copies and counterfeits.

Overview

Since 1992, M2L - a furniture importer and distributor specializing in genuine modern design - has been dedicated to finding and sourcing truly iconic pieces that define the classic modern aesthetic. However, the practice of selling “knock-offs” has become widespread in the furniture and interiors industry because designers, manufacturers and consumers are unfamiliar with intellectual property rights. From pieces “inspired” by other designers to actual counterfeits that are marketed illegally, it is important for the next generation of designers to know where the lines are.

Last year, M2L created the Genuine Design Competition in conjunction with New York Eleven - a collaboration of New York State educational institutions offering four-year programs in interior design - to heighten students’ awareness of design ethics in the furniture design field. It was open to students at participating New York Eleven schools and based around essays regarding design authenticity. M2L also organized a panel discussion on intellectual property in the design field, which was moderated by The New York Times writer Fred Bernstein and recorded in M2L’s Manhattan showroom. To view the discussion, visit http://www.genuinedesign.com/scholarship.html

The 2010 M2L Genuine Design Competition is held in collaboration with New York Eleven and is now open to design students across the country. Entrants are asked to create a short video (under 4 minutes) similar to a PSA on the topic of genuine design and why furniture designers deserve the right to protect their work against knockoffs. M2L will award $8,500 in scholarships to students who make the best use of video to express their understanding of the complex issues involved.

Four students will be awarded scholarships of $3,500, $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.The winners will be announced at the end of March and honored at an event in M2L’s New York showroom. The winners’ videos will also be featured on the Genuine Design website.

Entrants must currently be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited university in the U.S. and pursuing a degree in a design-related field. Students’ entries are limited to video files posted on YouTube, which will be embedded on the Genuine Design website. If more than one person is featured in the video, only the student listed on the entry form will be eligible to receive the scholarship.

Student entries will be reviewed by a jury of top design journalists and professionals including: Sarah Rich (Dwell); Laurel Petriello (Interior Design); Nicole Haddad (New York Spaces); Karen Shalett (DC Modern Luxury); and David McFadden (Museum of Arts and Design). Judging will be based on originality, quality of content and impact of message.

Friday, March 5, 2010 at 6pm UTC.