Cannes Lions launches Young Lions Design Competition

Cannes Lions have announced the addition of a Young Lions Design Competition to the 2012 International Festival of Creativity, taking place from 17 to 23 June. The new competition will see teams of two briefed to work on a special project on behalf of the client, either a charity or non-profit organisation.

Given just 24 hours, teams will be required to deliver a brand identity for the project which may be fictional or real depending on the appointed client. Within the allotted time competitors must produce a logo/brand identity, a 150-word description of how the brand identity fits the brief and a 150-word description of how the brand would evolve.

Steve Latham, Cannes Lions Director of Talent and Training, commented, “Cannes Lions prides itself on providing unrivalled opportunities, experiences and training for the rising stars of the industry. With the introduction of the Design Lions category in 2008 it makes sense for us to recognise and encourage the young design community, allowing them to showcase their talents on the global stage at Cannes.”

The competition is open to young designers holding positions such as graphic designer, web designer, retail designer, product designer and other specialised design roles. Competitors will be welcomed from design agencies and advertising agencies and should be aged 28 years and under.

The Young Lions Design Competition will see competitors briefed on Sunday 17 June, with the competition running on Monday 18 June. Entries will be judged by the Design Lions Jury. The winners of the competition will be announced and presented with their medals at the Press, Design, Radio and Cyber Lions Awards Ceremony taking place on Wednesday, 20 June in Cannes, France.

The Young Lions Design competition will sit alongside the existing Print, Cyber, Media, Film and Marketers competitions. With a dedicated Young Lions Zone providing networking opportunities, other Festival activities for the young in Cannes include a series of master classes given by high-profile speakers, The Cannes Creative Academy for Young Marketers and the newly-launched Young Creative Academy, details of which will be released soon.