Have you heard of
Red Clay yet? If not, I'm sure that you will soon! This is probably one of the coolest ideas I've seen for the creative world. The idea came from founder, Abigail Kiefer, who just happens to be one of my childhood friends. Of Red Clay, Abby says, "Red Clay stages challenges to solicit designs from the design community at large. Each challenge sets design parameters by selecting a sustainable material, such as organic cotton, and identifies a provocative theme. Red Clay searches out up and coming designers to contribute, giving them a platform on which to build their portfolio."
Not only is this a place for us to share our creative designs, it's also a place where we have the opportunity to vote on which designs we want to see produced. The top ten designs receive a monetary prize, but even better than that, your design will be PRODUCED and SOLD, through Red Clay. How cool is that?!
The first design challenge has already begun--
Let Summer Shine In: The Textile Challenge. There are already some amazing ideas out there. I love that the only guideline given is the fabric. You can literally create with any color that you can imagine. Red Clay encourages you to think outside the box. This is so much more than just a summer pillow design: Bags, ottomans, picnic blankets, wall decor, table settings! If you can imagine it, they can make it!
I am definitely not a graphic designer, but more of a hands on person. The design submissions don't have to be created on a computer. Feel free to draw your idea, take a picture, then submit that. The most important things right now is that the current design challenge ends at 6PM PST April 22, 2011. The voting period ends Sunday May 1.
This is an amazing opportunity. Where else can you design something in your own home, knowing that there's a possibility it will be produced and sold around the country? Go visit
Red Clay now!