To foster digital cultural exchange and creative collaboration between young people in China and the UK, and to raise global awareness of urban rivers as a source of life and heritage, a coin design competition themed "Our Water" is held as part of the "THE MINT - UK-China Mint Culture Exhibition"to be held in London in June 2025. The exhibition is one of the second-season series events of Program “Our Water: Flowing from Shanghai – Intercultural Dialogues among World Cities”. The entries that have passed the preliminary competition will be on public display at the exhibition.

Participants are encouraged to explore the theme from the following perspectives:

(1) Emotional Connection: Highlight the role of urban rivers as the lifeblood of cities, shaping their history, culture, and communities.

(2) Environmental Responsibility: Convey the urgency of water conservation, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration.

(3) Dialogue Between Civilizations: Use coin design as a medium for artistic and cultural exchange, fostering a conversation between people, cities, and nature.

Co-organised by

USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry

Brunel Design School, Brunel University of London

Special Acknowledgement

Shanghai Mint Museum

Who Can Participate?

Students from design and art-related disciplines at universities worldwide.

Design professionals under the age of 30.

Individual and team submissions are allowed, with a maximum of three members per team.

Design Requirements

The design must centre on the theme Our Water, incorporating elements of Shanghai and London’s urban rivers.

Participants may use symbols such as water currents, bridges, riverbanks, landmarks, flora, and fauna to represent the cultural and ecological value of urban waterways.

The design should communicate the relationship between water, cities, and human life, reflecting both emotional and environmental themes.

Designs should be suitable for minting, with clear relief and well-defined layers. Avoid excessive detail that may be difficult to replicate in coin production.  

Submission Requirements

1. Up to five design proposals per participant/team. Each design must include both the obverse and reverse sides, presented on separate A4-sized sheets (210 mm × 297 mm). Two versions of each design should be provided: one with a diameter of 180mm and another with a diameter of 40mm.

2. Each submission must include a completed registration form and a design statement (in English or bilingual English-Chinese) explaining the concept and inspiration behind the work.

3. Digital submissions only: files must be in JPG or PSD format, at a resolution of at least 300dpi. The file name should follow the format: Name + Institution (or Company) + Title of Work.

4. 3D modelling submissions are encouraged in addition to 2D designs. Accepted formats: GLB or Marmoset Toolbag, with a maximum file size of 200MB.

Submission Method and Time

All materials must be submitted via email to icci-seefuture@sjtu.edu.cn before 12:00 noon (Beijing Time) / 5:00 a.m. (UK Time) on  20 May 2025.

Judging Criteria

1. Relevance to Theme (40%) – Does the design effectively convey the emotional and ecological significance of urban rivers?

2. Creativity & Artistic Expression (30%) – Does the design demonstrate originality and visual impact?

3. Technical Feasibility (20%) – Is the design suitable for coin minting?

4. Environmental Message (10%) – How strongly does the design advocate for water conservation?

Judging Process

1. Initial Review: The competition committee will conduct a preliminary screening of all submissions.

2. Public Vote: Shortlisted entries will be showcased at the UK-China Numismatic Culture Exchange Exhibition in London on 8 June 2025, where visitors can vote in person or online (accounting for 50% of the final score).

3. Expert Panel: A panel of experts—including designers, minting specialists, artists, and environmentalists—will evaluate the entries, contributing to the remaining 50% of the score.

All shortlisted works will be exhibited and receive official certification.

Prizes

First Prize (1 winner): Trophy, certificate, and potential minting of the design as a commemorative coin.

Second Prize (2 winners): Trophy, certificate, and potential minting of the design as a commemorative coin.

Third Prize (3 winners): Trophy, certificate, and potential minting of the design as a commemorative coin.

Submission Deadline: 20 May 2025, 12:00 noon (Beijing Time) / 5:00 a.m. (UK Time)

Initial Review Results: 27 May 2025, 12:00 noon (Beijing Time) / 5:00 a.m. (UK Time)

Exhibition Period: 8–13 June 2025 (UK Time)

Public Voting Deadline: 12 June 2025, 12:00 noon (UK Time)

Expert Judging: 12 June 2025 (UK Time)

Award Ceremony: 14 June 2025, during the exhibition’s closing event (UK Time)

1. All submitted works must be original and unpublished, with full copyright owned by the participant. Any legal disputes arising from copyright infringement will be the responsibility of the participant.

2. Until the official results are announced, all submitted designs remain the property of the organisers and may not be entered into other competitions. After the results are published, non-winning entries will have their rights returned, while winning designs will be retained by the organisers.

3. The organisers reserve the right to modify winning designs to meet production requirements and use them for the following purposes: coin production and distribution, promotional materials, and commercial applications.

4. Participants are solely responsible for any legal disputes involving third-party copyright claims.

5. Winners must provide a personal photograph and bio for promotional and copyright documentation purposes.

6. The organisers retain the right to exhibit, publish, and promote the winning entries across various media platforms.

7. If a winner disagrees with the competition’s terms, their award may be revoked.

8. The organising committee reserves the right to make final interpretations of all competition rules.