Student Competitions & Shows

Shows & Competitions (in order of deadline)

OTBT Announces Shoe Design Competition

Off The Beaten Track (OTBT), a leading women’s travel-inspired fashion footwear brand, today announced its first ever shoe design competition, open to fans and amateur designers through August 28, 2017. OTBT is seeking original shoe designs inspired by adventure and travel with a casual, yet fashion-forward focus.

The entrant with the winning design, selected by OTBT’s design team, will receive a $500 cash prize and the opportunity to collaborate with brand designers on the unique shoe, for inclusion in the Spring Summer 2018 OTBT line.

“Design is more than just aesthetics,” said Todd Partridge, Consolidated Shoe Company’s chief design officer. “It is fundamentally much more. Design must have functionality that translates into aesthetics without having to be explained. It starts with a thought that’s worth remembering.”

OTBT’s design team will review every entry, selecting the winning design according to competition criteria. Entries must be an original design that fits the OTBT brand and style aesthetic, paying special attention to comfortable and versatile style. Partridge advises to “identify the basics first and then fill in the details.” Designs must comprise a completely unique upper, the top portion of the shoe, built atop OTBT’s popular platform wedge bottom construction, provided as a graphic to entrants for use in the competition.

The competition is open for entries from July 12, 2017 through August 28, 2017. The winner will be announced shortly following the competition end. Entering is free. Official rules, entry criteria and submission can be found at https://www.otbtshoes.com/pages/competition.

Spoonflower Emerging Designer Grant

The Spoonflower Emerging Designer Grant, an award to support undergraduate and graduate students in pursuit of textile and design degrees worldwide. Grants are awarded to a select group of recipients each month to create their own digitally printed custom fabric and wall media for use in shows and exhibitions. Recipients are chosen monthly on a rolling basis.

Additional details about the grant can be found on here. Additional questions can be directed to Theresa Rizzuto.