The Croatian Association of Artists of Applied Arts (ULUPUH) has announced the call for submissions to Zgraf 11 - an Icograda-endorsed international triennial exhibition of graphic design and visual communications. Held since 1975, it is the biggest exhibition of graphic design in Croatia. Over the years, it has gathered designers, theorists and critics from around the world to bring out the fundamental problems and position of design in contemporary society. The deadline for entries is 31 January 2012.

Zgraf 11 aims to discuss the relationship between design and social and political modernisation in the post-industrial era. It wants to affirm the idea of design that is closer to social development than to mere economic growth. It raises, once again, the questions of the nature and significance of design as a contemporary profession.

ZGRAF 11 is comprised of:

A regular international exhibition of selected works produced in the area of graphic design and visual communication (Review). It will feature works produced in the area of graphic design and visual communications in the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011.
An international thematic and selected exhibition under the theme, "This used to be the future." The best work in this segment will be awarded a special prize;
Lectures and presentations by the members of the international jury and other experts in the field of graphic design and visual communications
EduZgraf international workshops for students
 Ancillary events

About the theme
Zgraf 11 aims to discuss the relationship between design and social and political modernization in the post-industrial era. It wants to affirm the idea of design that is closer to social development than to mere economic growth. We would like to raise once again the questions of the nature and significance of design as a contemporary profession. In what ways can we stand up to the underappreciated notions of design and its practices in times of deep structural crises of the global post-industrial society? What are the possibilities of critical design practices today? What is the role and the potential of education for designers and education through design?

International Jury
    Rick Poynor (United Kingdom)
    Niklaus Troxler (Switzerland)
    Huda Smithujizen AbiFares (Lebanon)
    Barbara deWilde (United Stes)
    Boris Ljubicic (Croatia)

Selection Committee
    Borut Vild (Serbia)
    Lena Balant (Slovenia)
    Ana Kunej (Croatia)
    Igor Stanišljević (Croatia)
    Dejan Krsic (Croatia)

Categories
The international triennial exhibition of graphic design and visual communications Zgraf is made up of two main parts. The first is a review exhibition of selected works in the field of graphic design and visual communications and the second is a thematic exhibition presenting selected works designed to a specific exhibition theme. Submission deadline for both parts is 31 January 2012.

A) Review
The review exhibition is a regular international exhibition of selected works in the field of graphic design and visual communications realised in the period from
1 March 2008 to 31 January 2012.

1. Visual identity
2. Printed promotional/communication materials
3. Publishing
4. Packaging
5. Signage
6. Advertising
7. Specific sections of visual communications –independently
8. Design for film and electronic media
B) Theme
The international thematic exhibition ‘This used to be the future’ will present already realised works or works designed specifically for this exhibition. The works may be realised in any medium as long as they communicate the exhibition theme.

The exhibition theme is not offered as a sentence or a question, but as a crossword of notions whose different combinations may present possible starting points for investigating solutions for the new social utopia:

    social
    modern
    common
    welfare
    open
    for everybody
    responsibility
    self-initiated
    potential/s

Prizes
The works selected for the exhibition will automatically compete for the traditional ZGRAF Awards:

    ZGRAF Grand Prix
    ZGRAF 1
    ZGRAF 2
    ZGRAF WELCOME (for designer/design team under 26 years of age),
    Icograda Excellence Award
    AICA Award
    10 honourable mentions

Organiser
Ulupuh – Croatian Association of Artists of Applied Arts