Dezeen has teamed up with LG Display to launch the OLEDS Go! global design competition, which seeks innovative designs that showcase OLED technology in new and creative ways.
LG Display and Dezeen's OLEDs Go! competition challenges contestants to create beautiful designs that make innovative use of OLED technology.
The contest is free to enter for anyone over the age of 18 in any country around the world, with prize money totalling €46,000. It is open for entries until 15 January 2021.
OLED, which stands for organic light-emitting diode, is a technology used in lighting and for digital displays on products such as televisions and smartphones.
It is different from other lighting technologies, such as LED, because it creates illumination across a surface rather than from a single point. This results in a glare-free, diffused light source that does not require the addition of a diffuser or reflector.
In displays, OLED pixels are self-illuminating, which means the technology can be used without a backlight. This results in deeper blacks, more accurate colour reproduction and wider viewing angles.
Whether used in lighting or for displays, one of the main benefits of OLED technology is that the panels are extremely light and thin.
OLED panels can also be flexible or transparent when they are not illuminated (although they cannot currently be both transparent and flexible). LG has used the technology to create the world's first rollable television, decorative lighting installations and transparent signage.
Competition seeks designs that showcase the possibilities of OLED
Contestants are free to design any kind of product that incorporates OLED technology.
We are looking for beautiful designs that make use of the technology in innovative ways to solve problems or enhance people's lives.
Rather than handheld devices, we are looking for larger objects that incorporate OLED displays of at least 22 inches (measured diagonally).
Designs should elevate the technology to create useful and desirable products. Entrants should consider who their product is designed for and how it will fit in with and enhance their lifestyle.
Proposed designs should showcase the key characteristics and capabilities of OLED technology – in particular how light and thin the panels are – while being feasible to manufacture using LG Display's latest technology.
Full details of how to enter the competition are included in the competition brief and rules.
€15,000 prize for the winner
Competition entries will be judged by a jury comprising Dezeen editors and LG Display executives and designers, who will select the finalists and determine the overall winner.
A shortlist will be published on Dezeen in March 2021, with the finalists revealed in April 2021 and the winner announced in May 2021.
The winner will receive a top prize of €15,000 and the runner up will receive €10,000, while the remaining three finalists will receive €7,000 each.
Competition closes on 15 January 2021
The OLEDs Go! competition closes for entries on 15 January 2021.
For more information about how to enter, including the full brief and rules, visit www.dezeen.com/oledsgo.
The top illustration is by Sam Peet. Images are from oledspace.com.
Partnership content
OLEDs Go! is a partnership between Dezeen and LG Display. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.