Call for Designers: 16th International Trieste Contemporanea Design Contest Now Open

The Trieste Contemporanea Committee has officially announced the 16th edition of its prestigious International Design Contest, a biennial event that has been a cornerstone of the Central and Eastern European design scene since 1995. Founded by the renowned scholar Gillo Dorfles, the 2026 edition titled “HOLD THE PLACE” invites designers to explore the profound connection between memory, object, and territory.

The Theme: “Hold The Place”

The competition challenges participants to translate personal experiences and regional narratives into functional design across two categories:

• General Theme: Designers are asked to propose an original concept for a small functional object that encapsulates a personal experience—real or imagined—of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. The goal is not literal representation, but rather creating a “device for use” that evokes the cultural, social, and landscape identity of this North-Eastern Italian territory.
• Special Theme (Venzone Prize): Marking fifty years since the 1976 earthquake, this prize is dedicated to Venzone, a town symbolizing resilience and reconstruction. Participants should interpret community and renewal through a functional object connected to this specific location.

Eligibility and Requirements

Participation is free of charge and open to designers of all ages.

• Eligible Countries: Open to designers born in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. (For group entries, all members must meet this birth-place requirement).
• Originality: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and must not infringe on third-party rights. Only one project per individual or group is permitted.

Awards and Recognition

The contest offers a total prize pool of €10,000, alongside international exhibition opportunities:

• Gillo Dorfles Prize: €4,000 (Best overall design).
• CEI Prize: €3,000 (Best design from a non-EU CEI country).
• Venzone Special Prize: €2,000 (Best interpretation of the special 2026 theme).
• BEBA Prize: €1,000 (Youngest individual designer among the selected finalists).

Note: Winning designers will be invited to the award ceremony in Trieste with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the organizers.

Submission Guidelines

All materials must be submitted in English via the official website. Required documents include:

• Official ID showing place of birth.
• Project file including production details (PDF, max 5 MB).
• A “Narrative Capsule” (short text, max 100 characters) and a detailed Rationale (max 2,400 characters).
• A descriptive CV of the candidate (max 1,500 characters).

Key Dates

• Deadline for Entries: July 5, 2026, at 11:59 pm (CET).
• Announcement of Results: By the end of July 2026.
• Award Ceremony: By September 15, 2026, in Trieste, Italy.

Editor’s Note: For those looking for inspiration, we recommend reviewing the Previous Editions to understand the contest’s evolution and the high conceptual standard expected by the international jury.

Official Application Form: Apply Here