Johnson Matthey NY recently announced the second annual edition of its Sustainable Design Awards. The competition allows American-based, emerging designers—independent or employed by a manufacturer or retailer, with less than five years experience as a jewelry designer (though postgraduates or final-year students may also enter)—to build their portfolios of work in platinum and palladium.

Entrants are encouraged submit new and unique jewelry in two categories: Platinum Love and Palladium Expression. Items can be rendered, submitted in CAD, or photographed. More important, they must also be wearable, have commercial viability, and be technically possible to make in either metal. Short descriptions of design meanings must also accompany entries. Any style is suitable for admission, and while stones and other materials can be included, the piece should be predominantly metal. Additionally, pieces must not have previously won an award or competition, nor should they have been retailed anywhere. Submissions of up to three designs in each category are permissible, but not the same design in both categories. Winners must have the budget to make the platinum or palladium piece, or have a sponsor.

Deadline for entries is Dec. 2; submit name, contact information, company name of affiliation, and number of years in business, along with entry, by email to sustainabledesign@jmusa.com. Keep images to between 1–3 MB, and state the category you wish to enter, Platinum Love or Palladium Expression. Designs will judged in December and the winners will be notified by the end of the month. Winning pieces will need to be finished by Friday, Feb. 10, in order to meet photographic and publication deadlines.

Four winners will each receive 1 troy ounce or 20 pennyweights of platinum or palladium from Johnson Matthey NY to help them construct their designs. The rest of the $30,000 prize package—cosponsored by Platinum Guild International, Palladium Alliance International, Carrera Casting Corp., Rare Creative, and MJSA—includes a $500 grant, free labor for casting the winning piece, professional photography, inclusion in a celebratory ad in MJSA Journal, and more.

Winners will be announced and pieces showcased at an invitation-only cocktail party during MJSA Expo on March 15 in Manhattan.

For further information on Johnson Matthey’s Sustainability 2017 vision and sustainability at JMNY, please visit jmny.com and matthey.com/sustainability.

JCK