100% design competition

A panel of judges gathered at the Royal College of Art (RCA) this week to select the shortlisted design in this year’s 100% Optical Eyewear Design Competition.

The winner of the competition, which aims to showcase young British designers talent, will be revealed at 100% Optical this February.

The Eyewear Design Competition is hosted annually in partnership between 100% Optical and RCA. Students at the college were invited to submit eyewear designs under two competition categories: ‘Couture’ and ‘Ready to wear’.

From over 50 entries, 17 designs were presented to a panel of expert judges.

Three finalists in each category were selected by the judges which included founder of Kirk & Kirk, Jason Kirk, designer Emma Montague, and RCA tutor Flora McLean. The finalists will showcase their designs during 100% Optical, which takes place at London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre on 6–8 February, with the winner receiving an internship with an international eyewear company.

Speaking about the competition, Ms McLean said: “I’d like to congratulate all the students who entered the competition this year. Usually we’re shown cardboard cut-outs of what designs will look like; this year the students really upped the ante and brought their designs to life using their chosen materials. The standard of entries was very high, making our decision very difficult. I think we’ve made the right choice however, and I’m looking forward to seeing the completed prototypes at the show.”

OT spoke to the judges of the competition, as well as last year’s winner, about the entries received.