Participants are encouraged to explore the theme from the following perspectives:
- Emotional Connection: Highlight the role of urban rivers as the lifeblood of cities, shaping their history, culture, and communities.
- Environmental Responsibility: Convey the urgency of water conservation, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration.
- Dialogue Between Civilizations: Use coin design as a medium for artistic and cultural exchange, fostering a conversation between people, cities, and nature.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Relevance to Theme (40%) – Does the design effectively convey the emotional and ecological significance of urban rivers?
- Creativity & Artistic Expression (30%) – Does the design demonstrate originality and visual impact?
- Technical Feasibility (20%) – Is the design suitable for coin minting?
- Environmental Message (10%) – How strongly does the design advocate for water conservation?
Judging Process
- Initial Review: The competition committee will conduct a preliminary screening of all submissions.
- 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).
- 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.
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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Participants are solely responsible for any legal disputes involving third-party copyright claims.
- Winners must provide a personal photograph and bio for promotional and copyright documentation purposes.
- The organisers retain the right to exhibit, publish, and promote the winning entries across various media platforms.
- If a winner disagrees with the competition’s terms, their award may be revoked.
- The organising committee reserves the right to make final interpretations of all competition rules.