OCAD University has partnered with the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, to create Reimagining Accessibility, a challenge to redesign the International Symbol of Access.
The white wheelchair on a blue background is used the world over. As a ubiquitous symbol of accessibility, it has the potential to carry a powerful message globally regarding the inclusivity of our society. However the message it conveys is outdated. Students have the opportunity to propose a new symbol set.
Forty five years after the introduction of the International Symbol of Access in 1968, the contest seeks to replace or augment the familiar wheelchair sign with a symbol inventory emphasizing the multifaceted reality of disability. This competition has a practical purpose given that less than three per cent of persons with disabilities in Ontario use a wheelchair or electric scooter for mobility purposes.
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
Quick Facts:
- Online Submission http://reimagine.idrc.ocad.ca/registration.php
- Submission Deadline: 25 October, 2013 (11:59 Eastern Time)
- Notification: 31 October, 2013.
- Submission Format: Digital
- Selection process: Juried
Awards:
- First Place Award $5000 CAD
- Honorable Mention (2) $2500 CAD
- The final winners will be announced on November 1, 2013 in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.
Eligibility and Rules:
- Students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at colleges and universities
- Projects must be submitted with no designer identification on the boards and in the required digital format.
- The complete rules can be found at: Challenge Rules
For more information, see http://reimagine.idrc.ocadu.ca/go.php/contest/index.php