Recognizing “the best of the best” at Design Caribbean The Design Caribbean Prize competition is organized by Caribbean Export Development Agency and will be awarded annually from among the exhibitors to the Design Caribbean trade show. The Prize aims to highlight the best designs and design-oriented products at the show. It is a celebration of innovation, design and creativity. There is no entry requirement as all exhibitors are automatically considered for the prize. The works on exhibit at Design Caribbean will have been pre-screened as made in the Caribbean and resulting from the transformation of a raw material by the artisan. Only products on display at Design Caribbean can be considered. The best designs are selected according to form, functional and emotional aspects of the product. Designs are considered for their degree of innovation, aesthetic qualities, functionality, usefulness, ergonomics and human interaction. On the first day of Design Caribbean the judges will award orange ribbons to all the booths they are considering for prizes. The aim is to select three winners in each of the following categories:

  • leatherwork
  • ceramics
  • metal
  • natural fibre
  • weaving
  • stone and marble
  • new materials
  • textiles
  • wood
  • jewelry
  • packaging

Each category winner will get a certificate and a trophy. The overall prize winners will be selected from this list of category winners and announced on September 4 2011 at the closing ceremony of Design Caribbean. Cash awards will be as follows:

  • 1st Prize: $5,500usd
  • 2nd Prize: $3,500usd
  • 3rd Prize: $2,000usd
  • Special prize to young artisan (less than 30 years old): $1,000usd

In addition to the cash prizes, winners will receive a free booth at Design Caribbean the following year. Carib Export undertakes to promote the winner through extensive marketing and communications services and to ensure the winner meets with business people to realize their product ideas or to reach a wider range of buyers for their existing products. The Jury is composed of leading academics and professionals in the field. Their decision is final and there is no appeal.

 

JUDGES OF THE DESIGN PRIZE AT DESIGN CARIBBEAN, 2011

Jenny Polanco Jenny Polanco. Su diseños de alta costura  son especialmente conocidos por su sentir clásico y vanguardista , así como sus líneas sofisticadas infundido con detalles hechos de manos artísticas de la República Dominicana, tales como botones de ámbar, esculturas de cuerno, larimar, nácar y coral entre otros. En los pasados 10 años, Jenny estuvo diseñando y creando joyerías inspiradas en el tono y la transparencia del ambar combinado con perlas, piel y piedras semipreciosas. Sus productos son únicos, con características artesanales y siempre hace hincapié enla feminidad y la elegancia del Caribe. Polanco posee varias tiendas en la República Dominicana ubicada en Altos deChavón, La Marina de Casa de Campo Romana, Casa Virginia, el Centro Comercial Bella Vista y la Zona Colonial de Santo Domingo. Recientemente Polanco abrió un  nuevo proyecto, una tienda curada con un arte conceptual y artesanía para apoyar el talento local.