Sue Aperghis - Polar Bear Medal2020/21
Medal Design
Design an Art Medal on the theme of arrivals & departures...
To counter the weight of issues in the media that often preoccupy us, this year we want designers to focus on the brighter and lighter things in life, bringing a sense of ‘fun’ and optimism to the forefront in your expressions and design proposals for this year’s medal design brief.
Arrivals & Departures...
Life is a sequence of arrivals and departures, literally and metaphorically: leaving school, leaving home; arriving at a new place, college, job, country, house. You lose something, but you find something else. You might lose your heart and find your feet. You experience disappointment but another door opens, an opportunity is missed but others materialise. You experiment and explore and find a happy accident. You arrive at the wrong venue but have a good outcome.
The art medal is the perfect place and way to express these two contrasting and complementary thoughts, especially with a sense of adventure, humour, speculation, fun and delight. It could be the arrival at journey’s end, and what is in store; it could also be the departure of a train to an unknown destination. You lose a tooth, but the tooth fairy arrives. You could lose your way but find a path. The medal represents a balance, a link between two thoughts or feelings, like life, it’s full of challenges, unpredictability’s and unexpected outcomes, so celebrate yours.
The Art Medal
The art medal is a medium for expressing two ideas in one artwork, also engaging with its edge to create a complete narrative. Designs should think about how the form of the medal can be used to emphasise their concept in a clever and compelling way.
The art medal is held in the hand, and therefore its texture is an integral part of any design.
The definition of an art medal: a two-sided, low relief medal that fits into the palm of the hand and is not intended to be worn. It is usually cast using the lost-wax technique.
For more information and inspiration on medal design, please visit the British Art Medal Society website.
Participants can download a new online book about making medals here:
Tips
Maximise the surface areas available on the medal using both sides, and the edges of the medal where appropriate, in a fluent and cohesive design.
Bringing your designs to life
Along with winning an Award in this section, the two top prize winners can have their design cast by G. W. Lunt free of charge. For this to be achieved the winning entrant/s must be able to produce a wax or plaster model of their medal design (also creating a mould) for casting by September 2025.
This design brief has been written in liaison with Marcy Leavitt Bourne, who also liaised with G. W. Lunt for this excellent invitation, opportunity and experience.
Guidance & Entry Form Requirements
Entries must comply with the 2D design and submission guidelines:
Good standards of visual communication and presentation will be highly regarded;
Description of your design, the concept and material specifications (gemstones, metals etc) must be provided on the design board.
Outline method/s of manufacture where relevant.
Entrants are requested to declare on the entry form if they have had their design rendered by a CAD technician or a digital artist.
Presentation
- Designs are to be presented on one side only and mounted on card, foam board or equivalent backing board.
- Paper only entries are not acceptable.
- For all entries: x1 design board per entry.
Maximum presentation dimensions
x1 A3 (297 x 420 mm)
Anonymity
Please ensure your name is on the reverse of your design board;
Do not put your name or identity/logos on the front.
Entries that don’t conform to the above requirements may be disqualified.
