two socially minded design competitions

cause/affect
There are plenty of ways to make your mark as a designer. Some of us count our contribution by the number of awards they’ve won. Others like to check off the number of big named designers they know. But for a select group, making their mark means making a contribution — to their clients, to the design community, to those in greater need. The trouble is, doing work for good causes often slips under the radar. So we’ve come up with a way to help you make your mark — the cause/affect competition. cause/affect is a biennial, international design competition that celebrates the work of designers and organizations who set out to positively impact our society. Deadline for submission is June 24, 2011.

aiga (re)design awards
All designers and creative professionals, art and design students, educators, and business and/or organizations of design throughout the world are encouraged to enter. Entrants need not be members of AIGA.

All design work entered in the competition should communicate the importance of social responsibility or sustainability for our planet. We are looking for excellence in design solutions that actively engage in enriching our lives. This could be, for example, raising awareness about a cause or condition, celebrating an arts institution or event, or even harnessing innovations in production and materials that are better for our environment. Contest begins June 15, 2011.