Design Your Ultra Experience: The NewView Awards Announces 2019 Call For VR Experiences Entries

Calling all designers: The NewView Awards has announced the official opening for the second annual call for entries for original, innovative VR experience in fashion, culture, and art.

Now in its second year, the NewView Awards honors the next generation of cultural and lifestyle experiences in the 3D space that transcend the boundaries of the real and imaginary worlds. Although the awards are based in Tokyo, creators from all specialties and backgrounds around the world are encouraged to apply.

Like last year, this year’s competition will celebrate creations that explore the future possibilities of VR under the theme of “Design Your Ultra Experience.” Entries are open from now until September 30, 2019, and anyone can take part by designing their 3D experiences on the VR creation platform STYLY.

Creations will be judged on novelty and originality, experience, and impact. Entry is free, and finalists will be announced in mid-October, with works being exhibited at the newly-designed Shibuya PARCO department store following its grand re-opening mid-November. This will be followed by an awards ceremony celebration in the first half of December, when the winners are announced.

Entrants will be competing for the gold prize of US$20,000 and three silver prizes of US$5,000 each. In addition, one designer will be awarded the special PARCO Prize to create a 3D installation in collaboration with PARCO Department Store that will be exhibited in the newly-designed Shibuya PARCO flagship store.

This year’s competition features a panel of renowned international judges, including Japan’s own character producer and bookshop owner Yumemi Nemu, formally of the Dempagumi.inc idol group, TV screenwriter Mitsuru Kuramoto, filmmaker and director Sou Ootsuki, noiz architect Keisuke Toyoda, and artist Akihiko Taniguchi. They will be joined by designer and filmmaker Keiichi Matsuda, Canadian director Nick DenBoer, and Chinese contemporary artist Luyang.

The inaugural competition in 2018 saw a total of 219 entries from creators in seven countries, with virtual artist YouTuber Emoco’s “Emoco’s First Private Exhibition” taking home the gold prize. VR space designer Discont was honored with the PARCO Prize and single-handedly planned an installation art exhibition on the 5th floor of Shibuya Parco.

Based in Tokyo, NEWVIEW is a guerilla movement that invites urban creators in fashion, music, video, graphics, and illustration to push the boundaries and fully explore the possibilities of 3D expression through VR.

Jointed founded by Japanese online VR creation platform STYLY, PARCO Department Store, and design company Loftwork in 2018, NEWVIEW is dedicated uncovering and developing the next generation of VR creators through lectures, gatherings, and exchange in and outside Japan.

As part of the awards, NewView is also hosting the NewView School, a series of courses in Tokyo and Kyoto aimed at teaching students about VR as an artform. The course, which is already underway, is taught by some of the jurors of this year’s NewView Awards. The final project will see students submit their creative entries for the 2019 NewView Award. Similar workshops will also be held in Taipei, Taiwan, and Monterrey, Mexico, to help nurture and provide technical support for budding VR creators elsewhere around the world. 

Eligibility
Entries must be VR content that fall into the fashion, culture or art fields. All entries must be made and published on the STYLY online platform (https://styly.cc/). Additional tools such as 3DCG, game engine, DAW, etc., can be used during the creation process. Entrants can submit multiple entries, as well as works that have already been announced.

Prize information:
Gold prize – US$20,000 (1 work)
Silver prize – US$5,000 (3 works)
PARCO Prize – One winner will be able to create a 3D work in collaboration with PARCO Department store to be exhibited in Shibuya PARCO.

Other awards TBA.

Key dates:
Entry period: 12pm (JST) Monday July 1, 2019  – 12pm (JST) Monday September 30, 2019  

40 finalists announced: mid-October, 2019

Finalists exhibition at PARCO Shibuya after grand-reopening: mid-November to December 2019

Winners announced: first half of December 2019

Loftwork Inc. is a global creative company, which designs programs, spaces, services, communication and websites through collaborations. We are located in Hong kong, Taiwan, Tokyo and Kyoto . We also operate various owned media and platforms. Digital craft cafe “FabCafe” , and material design lab “MTRL” , the online platform “AWRD”, and an open community bio lab “BioClub“.  Loftwork is dedicated in building a global community of innovators. Through the design process, we create good impact to society.