The British Council has launched a competition to search for a design entrepreneur to represent Vietnam at the International Young Design Entrepreneurs Award 2011-2012, in London in September 2011.
The British Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have organized the competition. The PNJ Jewelry Company is the official sponsor. The competition aims to celebrate young talent working in creative industries across the world.
To apply candidates must fill out a form outlining their achievements and understanding of the industry and describe why they consider themselves “design entrepreneurs”.
Short-listed candidates will make a 20-minute presentation and attend a 15-minute interview in English with a panel of judges. They will then speak at length on the national design sector, their achievements and how the competition can benefit them.
The national winner will represent Vietnam in the UK where he will compete with candidates from other countries in the globe for this year’s International Young Design Entrepreneur.
The winner will attend the prestigious London Fashion Week and London Design Festival where he will have an opportunity to network and be able to establish business relationships with UK and international partners.
Robin Rickard, country director for British Council said; “Vietnam is a fast developing dynamic country that is boosting its reputation internationally in a whole range of sectors. A strong, creative and original design sector will be a key area in its continued growth and signs suggest that Vietnam is more than ready to meet the challenge.”
Selected applicants should be between the ages 25 to 40 and they should be working in sectors like architecture, interiors, environment, product design manufacture, furniture, industrial products and craft, fashion, textile, accessories or perfume design and production. They could also be in design promotion, shows, exhibitions, festivals, events, design retailing, buying, merchandising, design product research, sourcing, supply chain management and design marketing. PR, branding, communication, journalism or publishing are also fields open to the competition.
Entries include an application form, curriculum vitae, copy of ID card or passport to be sent directly to the British Council via email to tho.le@britishcouncil.org.vn or by post to British Council, Projects & Communications Unit, 25 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (please write IYSE Award Application on the envelope) no later than 30 June 2011. To download the application form, go to www.britishcouncil.org/vietnam
The International Young Design Entrepreneurs Award 2011-2012 follows the British Council success with a Fashion Award in 2007 and a Screen Award in 2010. The award is part of British Council’s International Young Creative Entrepreneur (IYCE) Award program.