FLOAT Contests

Theme: “Under the Sea”

Design Medium: Mosaics

With our inaugural edition of our new monthly design challenge, we are diving right into this one you might say!

Yes, FLOAT’s popular photography submission contest has now gone monthly, and for this first effort, contestants are asked to channel their best aquatic concepts in the form of a stylish and modern mosaic design. And thanks to a generous sponsorship from our friends at Hi-SHINE, the winner of this month’s challenge will receive a FREE registration to the FLOAT Halloween Workshop this September in Texas!

Here are the contest rules:

1. Anyone in the professional balloon world can enter this contest; unlike the FLOATEE Awards at the FLOAT conventions, there is no requirement of past involvement in FLOAT or FLOAT’s support events order to enter. However, sponsors and that were part of FLOAT 2024 are ineligible to enter, as well as anyone who served as an official member of the FLOAT 2024 crew. FLOAT faculty members ARE eligible to enter as long as they are not salaried employees of sponsors or vendors from FLOAT 2024.

2. There is no charge for anyone to enter this contest, but with that in mind, contestants are limited to ONE entry and one entry only. Anyone submitting multiple designs will be disqualified, so please put your focus into one piece.

3. While only one entry is permitted, contestants may submit as many as five (5) images of the same piece, in order to show different angles or aspects of the design.

4. All entries MUST be received by no later than May 28th, 2024, in order to be eligible. However, there is no timeline requirement for the creation of your entry, so designs or creations that were made before May 1st, 2024, may be submitted without penalty.

5. Submitted entries should be free of any company branding on them, nor should they include any images of people who may be recognized by the judging panel. If an entrant wants only branded versions of their photos posted, they should consider sending two versions of the entry photos, one with branding that we may post and one without for the judging process.

6. Entries must be submitted to [email protected] on or before May 28th, 2024. FLOAT cannot and will not allow for any late entries, including for reasons such as internet outages, heavy work schedules, travel plans and the like. Clients don’t accept your decor the day after their event, do they? Neither do we…

7. Entries may not use any copyrighted or trademarked designs, concepts or images without expressed written permission. This includes the use of licensed characters, corporation logos and the like. The exception to this is the use of licensed products used in the design; because such permission is issued through the purchase of a licensed balloon or item, that would be allowed. Anyone wishing to create a copyrighted, trademarked or owned design or concept must submit written approval for such use on or before May 28th, 2024, in order for it to be accepted.

8. A “mosaic” is defined as a balloon decor creation that involves inflated and/or un-inflated balloons placed within a constructed frame concept. While it is true that a mosaic in the art world does not require a framed structure to be involved, this contest does make that stipulation.

9. All entries must adhere to the design concept of “under the sea.” Entries submitted that fail to follow the theme will be disqualified.

10. Please note that the focus of this contest is on the design of the mosaic. While entrants may include supplemental balloon work as part of the background or overall presentation of the design, the mosaic element is considered the most important part of the entry and that aspect is what will ultimately be judged.

11. There is no rule against using pre-fabricated mosaic kits or other framed concepts that already exist in the event world, such as marquee letters and the like. However, anything not regularly used in the event world as a mosaic frame should be approved by the FLOAT judging panel before proceeding.

12. Anyone submitting an entry in this contest agrees to allow FLOAT the right to add their information to our general email list as well as gives us permission to post photos of their work for marketing purposes.

13. Designs will be judged based on cleanliness, originality and overall composition. FLOAT management will determine the top three (3) finalists. Then a panel of five (5) anonymous judges will determine which of the top three finalists is declared the winner.

14. Entries will only be judged on the quality of the work completed. Any supplemental content or “back stories” pertaining to the design where the design needs to be explained somehow will be disregarded for this contest.

15. One (1) prize will be awarded to the design considered the best overall which will be regarded as the “Grand Prize.” The Grand Prize is one (1) complimentary registration to the FLOAT Halloween Workshop in Lubbock, Texas, with a current value of $650.00 US. The Grand Prize does not include any travel related expenses, hotel accommodations, food or beverage consumption other than what is provided by the event itself or any other expenses or reimbursement related to the winner’s involvement in the Halloween Workshop.

16. In the event that the winner cannot attend the Halloween Workshop for any reason, the prize will then be forfeit. No cash substitutions will be allowed, nor will the individual be able to use the cash equivalent towards any other FLOAT related event or function. In the event of a forfeited prize for this contest, FLOAT reserves the right to award the prize to another individual, while the winner would still retain their right to the title of being the winner of the design challenge.

Any additional questions should be directed to [email protected].