TEKNOFEST Architecture and Visual Design Competition

TEKNOFEST The Architecture and Visual Design Competition was first implemented under the TEKNOFEST umbrella in 2025. This competition expands TEKNOFEST’s multidisciplinary structure by focusing on technology and encouraging innovative production in architecture and visual arts, areas with strong aesthetic dimensions.

The competition adopts a holistic approach that encompasses not only engineering and technical solutions but also spatial design, visual aesthetics, user experience, and digital art. In this regard, the event provides participants with the opportunity to integrate technology with formal creativity and aims to present contemporary examples of how design can be effectively integrated with technology.

The primary objective of the competition is to encourage the development of original and futuristic designs that enhance the visitor experience by endowing the TEKNOFEST festival grounds with aesthetic, functional, and sustainable qualities. Within this scope, the competition supports creative approaches that directly contribute to the physical and visual identity of the festival, emphasizing that design must address not only formal but also experiential dimensions.

The competition also requires participants to consider multidimensional evaluation criteria beyond their expertise in architecture and visual design, including environmental sensitivity, user-centeredness, and spatial coherence. Thus, it lays the groundwork for the generation of solutions that are not only aesthetically compelling but also functional and sustainable. This approach enables the festival to be addressed through a comprehensive design philosophy, aiming to support multidisciplinary production forms.

The competition is organized under five main categories, each aiming to develop designs that contribute to the physical, visual, and functional aspects of the TEKNOFEST site. Each category focuses on a different component of the festival and expects participants to produce both creative and implementable solutions.

1. Stage Designs: The goal is to redesign stages for high-attendance events such as openings, closings, and award ceremonies, with emphasis on aesthetics, functionality, and technological integration. Participants are expected to develop stage compositions that enhance the audience experience and reflect the spirit of the festival.

2. Champions League Pavilion: This category focuses on creating an inspiring and interactive exhibition space to showcase projects that have achieved recognition in TEKNOFEST’s history. The aim is to construct a spatial narrative that allows visitors to past with achievements and experience engaging, interactive moments.

3. T3 Foundation Pavilion: This section, which introduces the activities of Türkiye Technology Team Foundation, must be designed as an informative and participant-focused exhibition space that reflects the foundation’s institutional identity. Designs are expected to employ a narrative language consistent with the foundation’s vision and values.

4. TEKNOFEST Site Wayfinding Design: This category addresses signage and information systems that enable visitors to navigate the complex layout of the festival grounds with ease. Designs must be both functional and harmonious with the overall aesthetic language of the festival.

5. TEKNOFEST Graphic Concept Design: The goal is to design all printed and digital visual materials used throughout the festival—such as posters, banners, brochures, and social media content—within a cohesive graphic language. Participants are expected to develop an original visual identity that reflects TEKNOFEST’s thematic structure.

All Turkish citizens and foreign nationals residing in Türkiye or abroad who are enrolled in pre-university, undergraduate, or postgraduate programs may participate. Participation may be individual or in teams of up to five members. Teams may also benefit from advisor support if desired (advisors are not counted in the team size).

The competition process consists of three main stages: application, submission of project files, and evaluation. Participants are expected to submit design files aligned with their chosen category within the specified duration. The following criteria will be considered during evaluation:

• Creativity and originality
• Functionality and feasibility
• Environmental sustainability
• User experience
• Consistency with the festival identity

Winning projects will have the opportunity to be implemented at the TEKNOFEST 2025 festival grounds, and their designers will receive prestigious awards as well as the chance to leave a lasting imprint on TEKNOFEST’s visual structure.