Calling All Inventors!

Fringe Inventions

The strange and amusing Japanese art/hobby of Chindogu is the inspiration for a product design exhibition at the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival. Chindogu are everyday inventions designed to make life a little easier but which are also completely impractical – a double-sided toothbrush for cleaning your teeth faster, an umbrella that catches rainwater into a drink bottle, an elastic tape measure for those trying to shed a few kilo (but who need a bit of encouragement!). This is a fun design event that questions the whole notion of progress and functionality.

Entry categories
A. Secondary student B. Tertiary student C. Open
(Open category includes academics, product designers and backyard inventors)

How to enter
1. Design your Chindogu. It must meet the 10 tenets of a Chindogu (see entry form).
2. Fill out the entry form available from info@dunedinfringe.org.nz.
3. Submit your application to the Fringe Festival by 5th March.
4. If your design is accepted you must make your Chindogu in time for the exhibition at the Otago Settlers Museum

Selection and support
A panel of experts will decide which entries are selected for exhibition. Selected entrants will be provided with support from the Otago University Design Studies department to present their work to exhibition standard.

Important details:

Where: Otago Settlers Museum

When: 20-28 March

Entry deadline: 5 March

Entry form: click here!

For more info
Dunedin Fringe Festival, Ph. 03 47..., info@dunedinfringe.org.nz
Chindogu history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/chindōgu or google ‘chindogu images’