SILMO is holding its annual Optical Design Contest, reinforcing its dedication to fostering expertise, supporting the optical industry, and encouraging innovation. The competition is designed to be a launchpad for emerging talent, challenging design students globally to push creative boundaries within eyewear design.
This year’s contest, themed “Superhero Glasses,” calls for participants to design innovative eyewear that transcends basic functionality. Students are tasked with creating frames that enhance vision and broaden perception, transform sight and the surrounding environment, and redefine eyewear as a powerful technology exceeding its role as a simple health aid. Designs should be bold and inventive, turning eyeglasses into tools for transformation and reinvention of both vision and the world around us.
Presiding over the jury is internationally recognized Belgian designer and interior architect Michel Penneman, known for his innovative hotel designs and expertise in architectural storytelling and color. Penneman’s eclectic and conceptual approach, with a focus on light and transparency, will guide the evaluation process.
The contest is open to students in their third, fourth, or fifth year of design programs. Submissions, which can be individual or team projects, must be entered via the dedicated platform by June 16, 2025. Designs will be evaluated based on innovation, functional relevance, responsible design principles, and technical feasibility. Finalists will be announced in July 2025, and their prototypes will be showcased at SILMO Paris 2025.
The winner will receive a €10,000 prize, equally divided between the student(s) and their educational institution. Furthermore, the winning design will be featured at SILMO Paris 2026.
Key dates for the contest are: June 16, 2025, for the entry deadline; July 2025 for the announcement of nominees; and September 26 for the prize ceremony at the SILMO Paris show.
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