Rationale
The International Handbell Committee is seeking designs for a new ceremonial item that will represent the ideals and mission of the committee at future International Symposium events.
The current Symposium Bell
Through the first 18 events, each of our three major handbell manufacturers provided a bell to serve as the official Symposium Bell for six events. Malmark Bellcraftsmen, Schulmerich Bells, and the Bells of Whitechapel each presented a bell that traveled from country to country and was displayed at each event. The Symposium Bells were engraved with the location and host country for each event where they were displayed. Transporting the bells between countries has become more and more challenging as airline regulations become more strict. Additionally, it is not practical to continue creating new bells and transporting them all from event to event.
Therefore, the IHC has decided to create one ceremonial piece that will become the official representation of our mission at events going forward. The existing Symposium Bells will be returned to their manufacturer where they will remain on display for years to come. The new ceremonial piece will be unveiled at the 19th International Handbell Symposium in Hong Kong.
Design Elements
Overall Theme
The new design should be an artistic representation of the mission of the International Handbell Commitee and the history of the International Handbell Symposium. While an actual bell has been used in the past, it is not a requirement that the final design is a working handbell or that it includes bells in the design. However, it should reflect the mission of the International Handbell Committee.
The Mission Statement of the International Handbell Committee is the promotion of the art of handbell ringing throughout the world. We, the International Handbell Committee, share a passion for the love of music expressed through handbells. As the International Committee dedicated to this art, we articulate our vision for the future to promote:
1. communication between nations,
2. handbells as a musical art,
3. world peace through the spirit of music.
Size & Weight
The finished piece must be no larger the following dimensions:
Size – 46 x 30 x 18 in centimeters or 18 x 12 x 7 in inches
Weight – 13.6 kg or 30 pounds
Materials & Production
There are no limits on the types of materials used, however, consideration should be given to overall cost of producing the design. All other things being equal, preference will be given to the less expensive production cost.
The design should incorporate three bronze medallions of 1″ circumference. One each will be provided by Malmark, Schulmerich, and Whitechapel as a tribute to their contributions to the worldwide handbell community and the Symposium Bells they provided for the first 18 events. It should also include a base or other removable element where the location and host of each IHS event can be listed as they occur. This element should be able to accommodate this information for at least 8 events before the need to replace it with a new piece to continue tracking this historical information.
Judging Criteria
Designs will be judged and selected based on the following criteria.
Degree of innovation – Is the concept or product new or does it supplement an existing product with a new desirable quality?
Aesthetic quality – Is the concept’s form pleasant to look at?
Design Elements – Does the concept or product display the following elements?
- Color
- Form
- Line
- Shape
- Texture
- Space
- Value
Realization possibility – Does the concept or product have a reasonable chance to be developed as a finished product or service within the next 12 months, from a technological and economical point of view?
Functionality – Does the concept or product fulfill all requirements of handling, size, shipping, maintenance, etc.? Does it fulfill the need or function? Is the design or concept cost effective to produce?
Emotional content – Does the concept or product present itself in a manner that is reflective of the Mission of the IHC?
Historical Content – Does the new design incorporate the historical background of the previous symposium bells and/or the heritage of the IHS in some way?
Submission Process & Timeline
Format
Submissions should be sent via email and should include the following information:
- A detailed sketch/drawing/graphic representation of the proposed design.
- A detailed description of the design outlining the materials to be used in the final production and an explanation of how the design fits the vision and themes of this contest as well as the designer’s motivation and inspiration behind their creation.
Timeline
24 May 2019 – Design submissions should be emailed to IHSDesign@Internationalhandbells.org and received no later than 17:00 GMT
15 June 2019 – The winning designer will be notified their design has been selected.
1 July 2019 – Designer and IHC will identify a manufacturer and confirm winning design can be created within defined budget guidelines.
Award
The winning designer will receive complimentary registration to the 19th International Handbell Symposium in Hong Kong and their name listed on the base of the design.