As you are hopefully aware, Jakarta and Palembang will be hosting the prestigious Asian Games in 2018 (assuming the government can get its act together in time).
On top of the numerous logistical challenges facing the organizers of the massive sporting event, they also face a creative one. Back in January, the Sports Ministry revealed the original design for the Games’ mascot, Drawa, which was supposed to be an exotic-looking bird of paradise. But the design was mocked by netizens for more closely resembling a chicken (you can see the original Drawa above on the left). Hearing the hurtful words of graphic design geeks throughout Indonesia, the ministry promised to come back with a new design in a few months.
This week, the Sports Ministry decided to take a democratic approach to the redesign by making it into a contest that is open to the public. And they’re offering a sizeable Rp 100 million prize for the winner design.
“After a long preparation process, finally the Asian Games Mascot Design Selection Committee has announced an invitation to various parties to be involved in the mascot design for the 2018 Asian Games,” the ministry wrote in a statement announcing the design contest on its website.
While it’s cool that the ministry has decided to make the mascot redesign into a contest open to the public, the competition has a number of conditions that to us seemed aimed at making it difficult for too many people to enter.
For one, before they can even submit a new design for Drawa, designers must first make it through a “pre-selection” phase of the contest, which involves submitting a portfolio of artwork unrelated to the competition. The rules also stipulate that designers can enter as individuals or groups, but that at least one entrant per group must have 5 years of experience in logo or mascot design.
Still, there are plenty of highly experienced and talented designers itching for a chance to redraw Drawa, as evidenced by an unofficial redesign contest held by creative network Kreavi. It’s a shame the Sports Ministry won’t simply choose from one of the fantastic designs from that contest, but that would be too simple and unbureaucratic. Hopefully the winner of the government’s official competition will be able to make something that matches or even surpasses these awesome entries to Kreavi’s contest.
For more information on how to enter the Sports Ministry’s mascot redesign competition, you can go to its official website.
