MILAN—Product and interior designer Marcel Wanders will be the honorary member of the jury that will judge and select the winning projects for the first tutoring contest in eyewear, A Forward Vision For Eyewear Heritage, a partnership project among Safilo and L’Uomo Vogue.

Marcel Wanders will chair the contest jury together with Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo, and Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue.

Noted for being one of the most prolific designers working today, Marcel Wanders has recently collaborated with Safilo by creating an exclusive eyewear collection of optical and sun styles, blending his own sophisticated designs with Safilo’s premium quality and expertise.

Safilo and L’Uomo Vogue’s first-ever scouting initiative and mentoring project in the eyewear industry was launched in February to find and nurture the next generation of eyewear experts. The application deadline has been extended to June 30. Open to all designers passionate about eyewear, the submission process requires a resume or portfolio, product sketches and a possible moodboard.

“It is so important that we give young designers every opportunity to showcase their desire to create. A contest such as this allows the world to take notice of Safilo and amazing talent that might otherwise go unnoticed,” said Wanders.

“We are very proud to count on Marcel in our jury. Safilo and Marcel Wanders partnered for the exclusive Safilo Eyewear Collection that we launched earlier this spring, and have seen Marcel’s talent inspire eyewear in new-to-the-market ways,” said Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo. “Marcel will make a unique contribution to our Award selection of talents to really lead the future.”

Open to young creative talents passionate about eyewear, and in collaboration with some of the most prestigious international schools of design, the contest aims to support innovative design, which takes here the role of catalyst and innovation driver, creating new contexts and defining new product development possibilities.

Three winners will be selected. One winner will be able to develop an eyewear piece that Safilo will produce and distribute, one will contribute during the making of a unique eyewear prototype and another winner will be admitted to attend the Safilo Product School. The Safilo Product School is a three-year program in line with the best practices of international apprenticeships that explores craftsmanship and the specific know-how of the company in the world of eyewear. It will include seminars as well as regular classroom training.

For the complete contest regulations, go to www.safilogroup.com/forwardvision.