Adidas Scoured the Country for the Best Undiscovered Artists

‘Laced with Passion’ by Simon Misra

Finally, summer is here and it’s time to ditch work and overdose on Vitamin D, fresh air and disgustingly good vibes. You don’t need an excuse, go on, rip your top off and bust out of your cubicle/classroom/bed (I’m disgusted at your laziness). If for whatever reason, you still need an excuse to celebrate, adidas have got you covered. As we push further into 2013, adidas are moving forward with their #unitealloriginals project, an endeavour we told you about a few months ago, which pledged to provide a platform for the next generation of creatives all over the country. Pop a bottle of anything fizzy, the results are in, and the winner, who receives a prize of 5K specifically tailored to help them forward their art career, has finally been chosen. But before we get right down to it, let me refresh your memory of the ins and outs of this competition. The adidas “Crash and Collide” project was a blank canvas inviting young artists and graphic designers to combine two ideas, along with elements of adidas Originals, and create an entirely unique piece of art. Along with global creative network Talent House, adidas set up an online database of all the entries and then sifted through to decipher the overall winner, with the help of contemporary artist Funny Tummy, and Jeff Thomas Shaw, the director of program design at Chelsea College of Art.

The two judges pored over the final selection, pulling out certain attributes and techniques to compare, which is difficult when the whole premise of the competition is absolute originality. Still, after some serious consideration, it was the works of Dean Cook and Simon Misra that took joint first place, with a people’s choice award going to Astan Istval. Grab a copy of our Fiction issue this month to see full A4 pages of Dean and Simon’s work, plus a selection of finalists. I know right? Who needs a rooftop pool party when you’ve got friends like us.

Not quite satisfied? You’re pretty difficult, but ok. We’ve heard whispers that adidas are planning something even bigger and better to launch in summer 2013, so stay tuned. Now get outside. Seriously, it’s gross.

Follow adidas for updates on Twitter, Facebook and their website