PMA/Student Design Competition 2025

Inspiration

The inspiration for this year’s Collab Student Design Competition is Sebastian Errazuriz, a Chilean industrial designer and artist known for his thought-provoking, functional, and often surreal furniture, sculptures, and installations. His work blends art, design, and technology, challenging conventional aesthetics and exploring themes like life, death, and consumer culture.

Brief

Create a sideboard, console or cabinet that embodies the spirit and discipline in the work of Sebastian Errazuriz, a Chilean industrial designer and artist known for his thought-provoking, functional, and often surreal furniture, sculptures, and installations. His work blends art, design, and technology, challenging conventional aesthetics and exploring themes like life, death, and consumer culture.

Characteristics and inspiration must consider:

• Quality of design and materials
• User experience - must be functional
• Provokes thought
• Elements of humor

 Submissions: Graphic Presentation / Design Statement

*All work to be uploaded to Café system, Student work due Wednesday, November 7, 2025

• 11" x 17" full color high resolution graphic presentation. (image # 1-with title of piece only, no further verbiage)
• 3-D image of design in context and scale (3 image max)
• 3-5 High Resolution images (300dpi) uploaded, including title of entry with no indication of name or school of student.
• 300-word Word Document – max

Judging Criteria

1. Evidence of applied research and process
2. Originality and creativity of the concept
3. Ability to be manufactured.

Announcement of Winners and Feedback session with judges

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

3:30 – 5:00pm (EST)

Zoom invite to precede

 STUDENT COMPETITION EXHIBITION

After the competition, a selection of the winning projects will be on published on the Philadelphia Museum of Art website, Collab online journal and displayed online through Collab/Philadelphia Museum of Art various social media platforms.

PRIZES

First Prize: $800.00

Second Prize: $500.00

Third Prize: $300.00

Two Honorable Mentions:  $200.00 

 JUDGES: 

Barry Richards, The Rockwell Group

Christian Larsen, Christian Larsen Consulting

Ashlee Harrison, Palace Intrigue,NYC

Tiffany Lambert, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Lewis Wexler, Wexler Gallery

Design Brief

Create a sideboard, console or cabinet that embodies the spirit and discipline in the work of Sebastian Errazuriz.

• Characteristics and inspiration must consider:
• Quality of design and materials
• User experience - must be functional
• Provokes thought
• Elements of humor

 Submissions: Graphic Presentation / Design Statement

• All work to be uploaded to Café system, Student work due    Wednesday, November 7, 2025
• 11" x 17" full color high resolution graphic presentation. ( image # 1-with title  of piece only, no further verbiage)
• 3-D image of design in context and scale (3 image max)
• 3-5 High Resolution images (300dpi) uploaded, including title of entry with no indication of name or school of student..
• 300-word Word Document – max

Judging Criteria

1. Evidence of applied research and process
2. Originality and creativity of the concept
3. Ability to be manufactured.

Eligibility - Students submitting projects to the Collab Student Design Competition must be currently enrolled in a college or university.