Emerging Designer: Submission Guide

It's time to prepare your Emerging Designer Award submission!

How do I enter?

If you are interested in entering the 2024 Emerging Designer Award you are required to follow the submission criteria as outlined below:

• Create and construct the outfit you wish to enter.
• Photograph your completed outfit on either a model or mannequin - use well-executed shots to highlight your design. Please review our photo submission guide below.
• Create a video diary outlining your creative inspiration, construction techniques and overall design process.  Please review our video submission guide below.
• Produce a portfolio outlining your design style, your background (including education and/or work experience) and a suite of images showcasing your work. If applicable, please include any PR and media exposure received or links to websites or social media accounts. Please find an example of a portfolio submission below.
• Submit your photographs, portfolio and video diary via the form.
• Ensure you have read the entry eligibility and judging criteria below for the 2024 Emerging Designer Award. Don't miss a critical detail, to ensure you are eligible!

Photo submission guide

The submission form asks for three portrait photos. We recommend the following: 

1. Full length photo to encompass the entire outfit, leave some clear space around the border to ensure you don't cut off your design.
2. Close up, focusing on specific details of the design
3. Additional full length photo from a different angle

Use the below examples as a creative guide to demonstrate the do's and don'ts when taking your entry photos.

Find an example submission from Alexandra Pennell, 2023 Emerging Designer Finalist here.

Video Diary Submission Guide

• To ensure your Video Diary is of the best possible quality for judging, please keep in mind the following:
  Ensure your lens is clean – a microfibre cloth is best.
• Always face your subject towards the light. Avoid having the light behind them.
• Use a tripod (if possible) or use both hands to hold your phone in landscape orientation (the screen is wider than it is tall). To ensure the video recording is stable, tuck both your elbows into your body to provide support.
• Try to avoid using the zoom feature as this will diminish the video quality.
• Always lock your focus and exposure.
• Mobiles – whenever your subject is in the frame, hold your finger on the subject to adjust the level of light and exposure.
• Remember you need to ensure the camera setting is on video and press the red button to start and finish recording.
• Video diaries must be in landscape format and be no longer than 5 minutes in duration.

Watch the below video diary example by Nikki Edgar, 2023 Emerging Designer Runner Up.

Portfolio Submission Guide

Please see the below portfolio example, by Eric Wilson, 2023 Emerging Designer Finalist.

What is the entry eligibility for the Emerging Designer Award?

To be eligible to enter the 2024 Emerging Designer Award, applicants must fulfil and agree to abide by the criteria specified in the Competition Terms & Conditions, which includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Must be an Australian resident, living in Australia during the competition period and must be 18 years of age or more as at the day of final judging, Saturday 2 November 2024.
• Millinery and accompanying outfit are not permitted to promote commercially a brand, store or designer.
• Must not receive any compensation from a third party for participating in this competition.
• Must not be a previous winner of the Design Award or Emerging Designer Award.
• Must not enter the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field Best Dressed or Best Suited competitions.
• Must not be a current or previous employee or representative of the promoter (or model if applicable).
• Physical attendance will be required for the successful finalists
• Any item of clothing, headwear or accessory that appears in the Emerging Designer Award is not permitted in the Millinery Award.
• Entrants are not permitted to alter or add to their outfit and accompanying outfit in any way from the beginning until the end of the competition.
• All prizes awarded to the entrant must remain the property of the entrant and are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash.

How do the judges decide who is a finalist?

A panel of judges will then choose the top finalists who will be invited to compete for the coveted 2024 Emerging Designer Award title. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email.

Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria: 

Creativity: A unique design that showcases an imaginative and innovative look unlike anything ever seen in this fashion category. Colour, texture, cut and the inclusion of accessories will all form part of the judging criteria in this section.

Excellence in Manufacturing: Skill demonstrated across design, technique and craft of construction, showing an eye for every detail.

Design Vision: The ideation behind the submission is a critical part of the design process and our judges will be getting underneath the development process and vision. Getting to know how the designer thinks, plans and brings their creations to life is just as important to our judges as the creations themselves.

The Victoria Racing Club supports and encourages sustainability in the sourcing, manufacturing and design process and the minimisation of their impact on the environment.

Full Terms and Conditions to be announced.

GO TO THE EMERGING DESIGNER COMPETITION PAGE