Overview

We seek research proposals that actively connect academia, the profession and the fabrication industry in the Continuing Research category and in the Speculative Proposal category new start-up projects. As this is a “design to fabricate” competition, TEX-FAB will match our network of fabricators and consultants with the projects that best manifest research through computational fabrication and apply it toward more intelligent integers of materiality and construction. Through a panel of experts we propose to identify projects that warrant a higher degree of realization and exhibit them to foster a discussion that engages an audience in our region and beyond. From this selection a final project will be selected and optimized with a team of experts for the purpose of full-scale production.

APPLIED is a two-stage international design competition. All submissions will be judged in the first round in San Antonio, from this field of submission 4 projects will be selected for further design development and will be exhibited and judged at ACADIA 2012 in San Francisco, at which time a winner will be selected to 

Criteria

You are encouraged to submit your design proposal in either of two categories: Continuing Research or Speculative Proposals. 

Continuing Research is a category that seeks to enable a more specific and regimented design research project already underway. Encompassing all works that are at a significant stage within their development that warrant a substantial shift in the scale and or material usage to further the research. This includes any and all previously funded work at any stage of development.

Speculative Proposals is a broad based category with the intent to kickstart a design research project. It is an open category and freely interpretable. New ideas, or concepts are welcome and present the entrant an opportunity to further develop their ‘flash of genius’. No previously funded research work may be submitted. 

Winners + Mentions

APPLIED is a two-stage competition. In the first stage a total of 4 selections that will be awarded a 1000 USD stipend to further develop their project in a scale model (2 selections from the Continuing Research category and 2 from Speculative Proposals category). For the second stage, the models with revised boards will be juried in Dallas, Texas August 2012 (a shipping fee stipend of 250 USD will be provided) with the announcement of a winner made public in August 20.

The final winning entry will be built, exhibited in Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Texas for the 4th annual TEX-FAB event and subsequently given to the Winner. The design and fabrication of the piece will be commissioned by TEX-FAB with the support of our competition sponsors. No additional design fee will be paid, however a 1,500 USD stipend will be awarded for travel to Dallas/ Ft. Worth to partake in the installation of their work, present the design on the day of the opening. Approximate value of winning proposal in materials, fabrication and labor is set at 10,000 USD. 

Honorable mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the Jury. All mentions will be exhibited online in June 2012 and the following year in Arlington, Texas February 2013.

Deadlines

Register and Submit on/or before June 2, 2012 (23:59 PM CST)