OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Elxsi, the global design company and part of the USD 100 billion Tata group, announced the launch of the second edition of Ignite Design Contest.

Ignite Design Contest aims to encourage young budding designers to enable change through design. The contest is part of Connect D, an annual event organised by Tata Elxsi to commemorate World Industrial Design Day.

The inaugural edition of Ignite Design Contest last year saw some inspiring design entries. The winners of the 2012 contest were Tanya Vij from IIT–Delhi and Vidhi Mehta from NID–Ahmedabad, who submitted design concepts on mobile creche for migrant construction workers’ children and sensory toys to build motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder.

This year’s theme, Design enriching everyday life, has been aligned to the theme set by International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, which is ‘industrial design is open’. The theme intends to convey the growing recognition of the importance of design across industries and how it can help brands and companies solve day-to-day problems to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Design students pursuing their full-time UG and PG courses in product and visual design (branding, graphic design and UI) in India can participate in this contest. Applicants can submit their entries in two areas - age-friendly kitchen appliances for the elderly and re-defining a smart TV.

Two winners (one each from product and visual design) would get a chance to work on a live project in the Tata Elxsi Design Studio in Bengaluru, for a period of three months with a paid stipend. In addition, each winner will be awarded cash prizes of Rs30,000 along with a winner’s certificate. The winners will also get to present their idea/concept to the panelists and audience at the 2013 Connect D event which will be attended by industry and academic experts associated with design. Design students should submit their entries by June 15, 2013.

Nick Talbot, global design head, Tata Elxsi, said, “We are excited to launch the second edition of Ignite Design Contest. Tata Elxsi is committed to promoting young talent and nurturing innovative ideas and Ignite Design Contest is a platform for us to engage with the design student community. We are therefore looking for daring, unique and innovative design ideas that can enrich people’s life and empower change.”