Take part and win: unique youngstar 2016

* Application period for the young designer competition gets underway

* Competition theme: The search is on for creative ideas for 'Outdoor Living'
* Double win: Prizemoney totalling 7,000 euros and the chance to exhibit at spoga+gafa 2016
* Networking for the future: Chance to establish international contacts

Once again this year in the search for the unique youngstar 2016, everything revolves around new ideas and products on the theme of 'Outdoor Living'. The submission period for the creative competition, which young designers, who have completed their degree no longer than three years ago, as well as design students are allowed to take part in, started on 18 January. In addition to prizemoney totalling 7,000 Euros (first to third place and a public prize), the young creative designers also have the opportunity to exhibit their prototypes at spoga+gafa 2016 (4 to 6 September). At the same time, they will be given the chance to establish important contacts at the international garden trade fair and set the course for their future career. The entry deadline is 1 April 2016. The application form is available at www.gardenunique.com/youngstar.

The international expert jury will nominate up to 15 finalists from among all of the submissions once the application deadline has expired. The evaluation criteria for reaching the big finale include the overall concept, the originality of the design, the conceptual and visionary quality, the functionality and quality of presentation. Those, who make it under the top 15, will also take part in the online voting for the public prize and will automatically receive one of the coveted places in the 'unique youngstar' competition exhibition at the leading international garden trade fair. The nominees will be able to present their ideas on 'Outdoor Living' to both the expert jury and an international audience over the course of three days. Thus, the young creative designers will have the opportunity to discuss their ideas and receive feedback from both the expert jury and from interested trade visitors or exhibitors. Because for the competition participants the chance of making the right contacts is extremely high at the international garden trade fair in Cologne. At 2:00 p.m. on 4 September, the first day of the trade fair, the waiting will then be over: The winners will be announced and the award ceremony will take place during the unique hour.
Last year, a total of 75 projects from 32 countries were submitted to the unique youngstar contest.

Further information and the application form for the unique youngstar young designers competition can be found at www.gardenunique.com/youngstar
Information about "unique youngstars" 2015 can be found here.


The spoga+gafa 2016 is open to trade visitors on 4 and 5 September from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. and on 6 September from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.spogagafa.com. 


The Garden Day 2016 is open to end-users and trade visitors on 3 and 4 September from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.tagdesgartens-koeln.com. 

Koelnmesse - Global competence in furniture, interiors and design: 
Koelnmesse is the world's top trade fair organiser for the areas of furnishing, living and lifestyle. At the trade fair hub of Cologne, leading international fair imm cologne as well as the trade fair formats of LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, interzum and Kind + Jugend rank among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry. Over the last few years, Koelnmesse has specifically added international fairs in the most important fast-expanding markets to its portfolio. These include Rooms Moscow/Moscow International Furniture Show, the China International Kitchen and Bathroom Expo (CIKB) in Shanghai, furniPRO Asia in Singapore and Pueri Expo in Sao Paulo.

The next events: 
imm cologne/LivingInteriors 18.-24.01.2016
furniPRO Asia, Singapur 10.-12.03.2016
CIFM / interzum guangzhou 28.03.-01.04.2016