The competition is now closed for entries. Many thanks to everyone who has entered, we will be in touch soon.

ENTRY FORM

Entries will be accepted from the 1st October - 31st November using the form below. Please read the submission guidelines to give yourself the best chance through the judging stage. If you have any problems with this form just send us a mail to colab@alpkit.com with your questions.

1. Your Entry Details

Title * [128 letters]

Describe your entry/idea * [500 words]

Tell us something about yourself or your team [50 words]

2. Supporting Material

You can upload 2 images, a video and even send us a 3D model to support your entry. Images should be in JPEG format with a maximum file size of 1MB each. You may also wish to create and upload a video to You Tube. If this is the case remember to read their 'terms and conditions'.

Image 1

Image 2

You Tube Video Link
Include the url here if you have uploaded a video to You Tube.
e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGav5LwMHRU

3D Model
Please tick this box if you are sending us a 3D model via post.

Additional Information
List proof of any patents, design applications or registrations, trademark applications or registrations, other rights, permissions or applications. (If relevant).

3. Your Contact Details

We need these details so that we can get in touch with you and to verify and credit your entry.

Name *

Email *

Telephone *

Address *

City *

Postcode *

I have read, understood and agree to play by the entry conditions.
You should receive an automated confirmation email shortly after submitting your entry. If you do not receive this email please get in touch and we will try to work out where it all went wrong.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Alpkit is responsible for launching and realizing coLAB, related information, the prize exhibition (coLAB09) and its additional programme at The Outdoors Show 2009. The Award is open to everyone interested in the outdoors, we want everyone to be creative and enter their good idea!

  • By 'entry' we mean a specific idea/invention/innovation/ product or knowledge.
    Your idea doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, it may be an improvement to a current outdoor product, a new pocket design, zip design, maybe a safety feature that could be incorporated into a current product on the market.
  • All entries must be original and the entrants own work. By entering the competition the entrant confirms that he/she is the legal owner of the entry.
    Basically this means you came up with the idea and haven't just looked around the internet and copied someone else's idea.
  • It is the responsibility of the entrant to secure Intellectual Property rights for their entry.
    Entering this competition does not automagically protect your idea. Information and advice on copyright, patent, trademark and design protection can be found at the UK Intellectual Property Office.
  • The entrant acknowledges that once submitted a specific entry will enter public knowledge and cannot then be protected by patent.
    If you think you are going to make your millions with this idea protect it before entering this award.
  • Where an entrant has protected his/her entry through design registration or patent this information should be included with their entry.
    If you have a patent or design registration on a product you must always display it otherwise you risk having the idea copied and may lose some of the protection a patent awards you.
  • Entries are received in good faith and in accordance with the rules however we cannot check the integrity of each and every entry. In the event of an IP dispute between third parties Alpkit shall not be responsible for contesting or upholding the entrants intellectual property rights relating to entries.
    If someone challenges your design saying they did it first, it will be up to you to prove you did it first. It may be the case you developed your idea at the same time without any knowledge of the other persons designs. We recommend you always have some sort of timeline with your designs. This may be conversations with friends in the pub, dated drawings you sent yourself in the post, time stamped emails to friends.
  • Entrants may submit more than one entry, however each entry must be submitted seperately.
  • Initial entries should be submitted before the 1 December, an expert panel will then shortlist 9 who will have the chance to further develop their entry.
  • The finalists will have the opportunity to work up their entry ready for the Outdoors Show.
    It is in our interest as much as yours to put on a good show at the Outdoors Show and where possible the Alpkit coLAB is here to help you. This doesn't mean we'll pay to have 3D modelling done on your behalf, but we may know where it can be done cheaply. We are only a small company with one sewing machine out back, we'll give as much help as possible but just be realistic in your expectations of us.
  • Nine finalists will exhibit their entries at the 2008 Outdoors Show. Depending on the specific entry this can include 3-D models, high quality artwork, powerpoint slideshow or sketchbooks. Although not strickly necessary finalists are encouraged to court the visiting public on their stand during the show.
    All the entries will be judged by the public visiting the show, obviously if you are there to give more substance to your design you'll be more likely to attract votes.
  • Alpkit reserves the right to change these deadlines.
    Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control and in these cases we will stress, pull our hair out and call in as many favours as possible. However sometimes the best thing to do is simply re-evaluate the deadlines, let you know what the issues are and everyone can relax and get some climbing in.
  • Entrants accept that Alpkit can use award entries for the purpose of promoting the coLAB Award on their website and in publicity material.
  • All entries will be returned to the owner once any publicity and promotional activity surrounding the award and future awards has finished.
  • The overall winner will be chosen by the visiting public and announced on the final day of the Outdoors Show (29 March 2009).
  • Entrants accept the judges decisions as final and binding.

COMPETITION BRIEF, REGISTRATION AND COSTS

Participation shall be carried out according to the instructions of the organizers. You will be required to present any promotion material, prototypes or equipment either to ALPKIT HQ by the 1st March or personally at the NEC on the 26th March 2008. The organizers of the competition shall be responsible for exhibits and insurance costs during the exhibition, and will pay for samples to be returned.

There is no payment due for registration. However entrants should be aware that there will be costs in attending the show. To get the best out of it we are recommending that you attend the show, this will require finding local accommodation our advice is to book early. Getting bulky samples shipped around may cost a bit so keep friendly with anyone with a Volvo. Time and materials can also soon add up.

ENTRANTS PERSONAL DATA

Alpkit will not publish any personal contact information or pass this information on to any third party.

CONFIRMATION OF AWARENESS OF THE AWARD RULES

By entering the award entrants confirm acceptance of the rules.

Submission guidelines

Title - A snappy product name is not required at this stage although it will be useful when marketing your product at the coLAB Award in March.

Description - Your entry has to convince the panel your idea is worthy of progressing in the competition. Further emails explaining your ideas will not be seen by the judges so put as much information in your initial entry as you can. Take your time, write clearly and concisely and get some friends to read it before submitting. We are not going to reject ideas for bad spelling or grammar but it will reflect the amount of care you have put into your submission.

Images - Your entry can be a simple pencil sketch, a marker rendering or a flashy 3-D rendering. If this is your strongest skill you may want to consider entering by post.

Video - A video can be an excellent way of introducing your product and describing its use. You can upload your video on You Tube if entering online or pop it on a CD if entering by post. To avoid potential problems please make it Quicktime format. Keep it short and snappy.. we don't want the judges falling asleep.

3D Models - We will accept 3-D models. These should be posted to us and must arrive before the closing deadline. If you are entering online please indicate that a 3-D model will accompany your entry. All models will be returned to the entrants or can be collected. If your model is valuable you should consider insuring it.

But you have no design experience

Maybe not now, but you will have by the time you are finished! Seriously we want this award to be inclusive and to attract people with good ideas who may have no previous design experience. We will try and guide you through the submission process and by participating in the coLAB Forum.

Do you need to protect your idea?

By entering into our award you are not giving us ownership of your ideas, however remember that this is ultimately a public award and the whole point of it is to give you the opportunity of getting your ideas seen. Having said that it is well worth taking the time to understand the issues since as soon as your idea is public you lose the opportunity to protect it. Although we do not have the skills to advise you on this we have collated some useful starting points.