PARIS—Silmo show organizers have announced the theme of and jury president for the fourth edition of its Optical Design Contest. The 2025 Optical Design Contest is themed around “superhero glasses,” which show organizers said should fulfill three specific needs: enhance vision and broaden our perception of the word; transform vision and the environment around them; and redefine eyewear as a powerful technology far beyond a simple health accessory. The guidelines clarify, “Through bold designs, the creations will have to go beyond their practical function to become instruments of transformation, elevation and reinvention of the view and the world.”
Michel Penneman, a Belgian designer and interior architect, will serve as president of the jury for the 2025 edition of Silmo’s Optical Design Contest. The contest is open to all students enrolled in the third, fourth or fifth year of a design course. Designs will be judged on their innovation, functional relevance, responsible commitment and technical feasibility. The winner will receive a prize of €10,000, equally divided between the winner and their school. The winning project will be presented at Silmo Paris 2026.
Projects, submitted individually or as part of a team, must be submitted by June 16, 2025, here. The finalists will be announced in July 2025, and the prototypes will be exhibited at Silmo Paris 2025 in September, where a winner will be announced during the Prize Ceremony.
Interested designers can learn more and submit online here.