Q: What is the deadline date for submittal of the required information? A: All information must be received by 4:30 PM EST December 26, 2008.

Q: How will the competition work? A: All entries will be posted on the official Hot Seat Website. Three finalists will be selected to present their designs, in person, at the opening of the OFS Santa Monica Showroom. Website visitors will be allowed to view and vote on all entries. In addition, a Viewer’s Choice Award will be given to the entry receiving the highest vote ranking.

Q: Do I have to post my entry? A: You can request for your entry to be posted privately, but keep in mind this is a design competition and you may pass up a great opportunity for your peers to not view your entry. You will also miss the chance to win the Viewer’s Choice Award.

Q: How will the entries be judged ? A: Judges will review all entries to determine a set of finalists whose designs best fit the competition criteria. The judging team includes Susan Szenasy, Editor in Chief of Metropolis, the New York City based magazine of architecture, culture and design. During Susan’s tenure as Editor in Chief Metropolis has gained international recognition and has won numerous awards.

Q: What does the winner receive? A: The winning entry will have their design developed and incorporated into the OFS product offering.

Q: Are there any benefits for runner’s up? A: OFS and The Hot Seat competition will award three finalists a trip to Santa Monica to present their designs in person at the opening of the OFS Santa Monica Showroom on February 5, 2009. From these finalists, a winning entry will be chosen. In addition we will have a Viewer’s Choice award.

Q: Is there an entry fee? A: No, there is no cost for applying to the competition, although we would like to limit entries to 3 per entrant.

Q: How should I submit my chair design? A: All chair designs should be submitted electronically by uploading the images through the ENTRIES page. Requirements: One image that illustrates your chair design (640 X 480 pixels (at 72 dpi)). The image must be in JPG format with a file size less than 120KB. The chair design does not need to be physically prototyped and photographed for submission. Diagrams, drawings and renderings that illustrate the design are also acceptable.

Q: How detailed does the description of the chair design need to be? What are the judges looking for? A: The description of the chair design should provide as much information as necessary to convey your chair design to the judges without exceeding 350 words. Judges will be looking for how your design reflects environmental consciousness, technology, sustainability, progressiveness, accessibility, and aesthetics. Other areas the judges will consider include the ability to manufacture the design and overall costing as OFS is looking to add the winning entry to their product line.

Q: Do I have to be a student to enter? A: No, there is no age limit. Anyone may submit an application.

Q: When will you announce the winner and how will the winner be notified? A: Three finalists will be notified by phone on January 9, 2009.

Q: What about copyrights? Who will own the chair design? A: OFS will own the copyrights to the chair, and the winning entry may qualify for royalty fees pending approval of the compensation agreement.

Q: Will OFS really produce my chair? Will I receive any of the royalties from the chair’s sales? A: Yes, OFS will put the winning chair into production. Please note that if your chair wins, it may inspire the creation of a series. Pending approval of the compensation agreement, the winner will receive a 3% royalty fee for a period of 10 years.

Q: How many finalists will there be? A: There will be three finalists selected depending upon the number of entries.

Q: If I’m selected as a finalist, what do I need to do? A: Finalists will be notified by phone on January 9, 2009. If you are selected, you will be invited to present your idea to the judges live during the Design Critique at the opening of the OFS showroom in Santa Monica on February 5, 2009. Presenting your idea through visuals is appropriate for the live presentation. The Design Critique will be open to the public and a question/answer format will follow each presentation to give your peers an opportunity to inquire about your entry.

Q: What materials can I use to make the chair? A: Chairs must incorporate wood as a material. Additional materials can be incorporated as well.

Q: What if I still have more questions? A: Please e-mail hotseat@ofs.com with any other questions you may have.