Design graduates compete for an audience with Starck and Conran

July 15, 2009 - PRLog -- The UK’s leading interior design and home wares website, mydeco.com, is offering a once-in-lifetime opportunity for three lucky graduate design students to pitch their final projects to internationally-acclaimed mydeco design board members, Sir Terence Conran and Philippe Stark.  The competition, called Design Class 09, will also offer ten of the most talented shortlisted contenders a coveted place in Tent London’s ‘New Talent zone’ in September.  

All students graduating in 2009 with a BA or MA in design-related subjects can enter their final projects to Design Class 09 by uploading their work to mydeco.com.  Entries will be then be appraised by a mydeco and Tent judging panel, with the best ten going on to display their work at Tent London during the London Design Festival.

The shortlisted ten will be made up of emerging design talent from any discipline, selected for originality of ideas and the potential impact the designs may have on our future lives.  

From the ten finalists, three lucky winners will be offered the career-defining opportunity to present their final projects in person to the mydeco design board in October.  These winners will also receive honest, face-to-face feedback and advice from these influential figures.  

David Kelly, mydeco CEO said, “mydeco is honored to benefit from the advice of such eminent industry figures as Sir Terence Conran and Philippe Starck, and this is an unprecedented opportunity for three lucky graduates to do the same.  With an expert appraisal from some of the world’s leading design names as well as the industry exposure at Tent London, we hope this competition will make a real difference to the winner’s careers.”

Jimmy MacDonald, Co-Director of Tent London, said, “The Talent Zone offers a selection of the year’s best design graduates the chance to gain industry exposure and launch themselves on a professional platform during the London Design Festival, free of charge.  Tent London is delighted to collaborate with mydeco for 2009 on this exciting competition. The additional opportunity for three of our graduates to meet the influential mydeco design board is an ideal evolution of our long-running Talent Zone platform.”

The competition will be launched at the New Designers show on Thursday July 9 at the London Business Design Centre.   All entries will be featured on mydeco.com.  The closing date for entries is 7th August 09.   The ten finalists selected to appear at TENT London will be informed by 12th August.

To enter visit www.mydeco.com/designclass09

-Ends -

For more information
Please contact Michelle Saxby at the mydeco press office:  michelle@mydeco.com, 020 3384 1337

About mydeco
mydeco was founded by the management team behind lastminute.com, one of Europe’s most successful ever online businesses.  mydeco.com brings together more than 5 million home ware products from over 1000 retailers.  From high-end to high street, mass market to niche, you will find what you are looking for on mydeco without having to trawling the high street.  

About mydeco design board
Co-chaired by style icons, Sir Terence Conran and Philippe Starck, this creative powerhouse consists of experts and innovators from every area of the home, including Tara Bernerd, Kelly Hoppen, Marc Newson and Kirstie Allsopp.  These internationally-acclaimed designers offer the benefit of their years of experience and their visions for the future of the design world.  

Key website features include:
•   Shopping:  search the UK’s most comprehensive database of home products by price, discount, colour or dimension.
•   Design my room:  build a virtual model of your home and choose from over 50,000 3D pieces of furniture to drag and drop into your room to check.
•   Community:  share creative ideas, tips and tricks with 50,000 members, ask questions and showcase designs.
•   The magazine:  get the latest news from the interiors world, read features and trend watching advice.
•   Buy the look:  view hundreds of inspiring looks from well-known designers, celebrities and even famous hotels.  Tailor the look to your budget and define your own personal style.
•   Shop by style:  from romantic to urban, find hundreds of stylish products in categorised by a range of styles.

About Tent London
Since its launch three years ago, Tent London has become the most diverse and innovative design exhibition during the London Design Festival.  Not one to stand still, Tent London strive to build upon their successes and deliver fresh and forward thinking design in all disciplines.  Tent London 2009 has some exciting new aspects to discover – from Tent Digital’s debut at the Truman Brewery to the installation of the winning design for The Art Fund Pavilion in Covent Garden, spreading Tent London across the capital.

Tent London Visitor Information2009
Tent London will take place from 24-27 September 2009, at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.

Opening Times
Thursday 24 September      10.00 – 20.00hrs
Friday 25 September      10.00 – 20.00hrs
Saturday 26 September      10.00 – 20.00hrs
Sunday 27 September      11.00 – 17.00hrs







Admissions Policy
Trade, Press, Public and Student visitors can attend the show on any day.  

Trade & Press: To gain FREE entry and save the £10.00 admission fee, visitors must register online before 18 September 2009 by midnight GMT.

Public & Students: Admission fee £7.50 in advance or £10.00 on the door.  ‘2 for 1’ Tent London ticket offer when you book online at www.tentlondon.co.uk before 18 September.  Just quote ref. code: ‘MYDECO09’ when prompted.

Children: Under 16, £5.00; Under 5’s FREE
* Visitors are advised that due to the value and delicate nature of some of the objects on display, children of all ages must be closely supervised.

www.tentlondon.co.uk

# # #

mydeco, founded by the management team behind lastminute.com, is the UKs leading interior design and home wares website. It brings together 5 million products from 835 retailers, boasts 3D technology to design your home, and a thriving community.