New Orleans, La.—Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency have opened entries for the 2020 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. Now in its 27th year, the competition recognizes top North American architecture and design firms and design students for their creative use of Italian ceramic and porcelain tile. Winning projects will exemplify top-quality design and demonstrate the superior technical and aesthetic qualities of Italian tile. Winners will be notified in March and officially announced at the Ceramics of Italy International Press Conference at Coverings, held here April 20-23, 2020.
An international jury of design experts will ultimately select winners in four categories: residential, commercial, institutional and student. This year, the competition will also incorporate a new public voting component, which will help determine the first ever People’s Choice Award. The project that has received the most votes by February 15 will be recognized as the winner of the People’s Choice Award and receive a trip to Italy for Cersaie 2020, to be held in Bologna, Italy.
Projects in the three built categories – residential, commercial and institutional – must be designed by architects and designers based in North America and completed between January 2015 and January 2020. The jury will also once again review submissions from North American design and architecture students who create imaginative spaces using Italian tile. Individuals or groups of students are invited to submit their projects in the form of renderings, floor plans and sketches. Students must be enrolled in an accredited university in North America.
Projects may be domestic or international and must feature a significant amount of Italian ceramic or porcelain tile produced by Ceramics of Italy member companies. All styles and scales of projects will be considered. The jury’s official criteria include: the overall design of the project; the aesthetic and technical quality of the tile installation; the degree to which tile enhances the setting; and the project’s sustainable attributes.
The deadline for entries is January 17, 2020.
