“One thing is believing that design is good, and useful. Another is to actually invest in it for the pure pleasure of seeing talent emerge and thrive.”

And that is exactly what philanthropist Madlena Zepter did when she decided to create Artzept, the international award that every year, since 2004, challenges young, unknown designers with a ontest focused on a central theme. Every year, the winning concept receives a 10,000 € prize, a sum that could well be just that extra support that a young designer needs to establish his or her own practice.

But Artzept was not only created to support designers and help them achieve their professional objectives. It also provides Zepter International with an insider’s view into what the design world is busy with, in terms of trends and creativity. Seeing the concepts and understanding the motivations behind them, as well as looking at the way in which the design professionals and the artists making up the jury analyse them is an enriching process for a company like Zepter International that is thoroughly dedicated to the development and production of consumer products designed to enhance people’s everyday lifestyle.

In the name of her passion for creativity, Madlena Zepter was able to create a first class jury for Artzept, which includes some of the most important artistic luminaries from the fields of art, design, industrial design and architecture, who successfully collaborating with leading companies worldwide. The Artzept’s art director Gordana Biba Markovic, art historian and art critic with the support of the president of the jury Borek Sipek, architect and designer and all the artists making up the jury will award the winners.

Every year, Mrs. Zepter defines a competition theme and the jury analyses the work of the participating exhibits realised in a wide variety of materials such as ceramics, glass, metal, plastic, composite materials and wood. The 2008 competition theme is “Cookie Jar”, a theme that is dear to Zepter International that has a design-focused product segment called Home Art. The contest is now open. Participating designers will have to submit by 25th October 2008 a piece of their work inspired by the theme “Cookie Jar”. The award ceremony will take place in Paris, in December 2008.

more details and rules at www.artzept.com