M2L Kicks Off Genuine Design Competition

The contest is open to U.S. design students who submit four-minute-long videos on the topic of genuine design by March 5.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 2/4/2010

Continuing its quest to inspire U.S. design students to knock-out knockoffs, modern-furniture distributor M2L is now accepting submissions for its second annual Genuine Design Competition.

Created last year in collaboration with Ruth Lynford, founder of design-school consortium New York Eleven, the competion aims to educate students and the public about the harmful impact of design counterfeiters on the industry. Four winning students will receive scholarships of $3500, $2500, $1500 and $1000.

In a digital-age departure from last year's essay solicitation, entrants must now produce four-minute videos that address the topic of genuine design, and present the case that furniture designers deserve to protect their works from being appropriated. Due March 5, the submissions will be judged by a jury of design journalists and professionals, including Interior Design web editor Laurel Petriello and Museum of Arts and Design chief curator David McFadden.

M2L founder Michael Manes originally developed the Genuine Design campaign to serve as a watchdog for the design industry. "Intellectual property isn't protected in the realm of furniture and design like it is in other industries," he says. "It is up to the next generation of designers to continue the fight for equal rights."