The Nominations Committee of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) is sponsoring a contest for design concepts for a new Margaret Mead prize to be awarded first in 2024. The ASC has established the Mead Prize to recognize accomplishments in growing the cybernetics community through education and/or advocacy activities, acknowledging and paying tribute to Mead’s leading role in the early years of cybernetics and of the ASC itself. The Mead prize honors those working across the breadth of activities in cybernetics, ranging from scientific research to new practices in design, and including both the scientific and the humanistic tradition Mead embodied.
The artistic concept solicited will be a representation of the circularity of modeling called out by Mead and Heinz von Foerster at the origins of the second-order cybernetics movement, in a form which is realizable as a graphical treatment that can be printed and framed.
Process
Initial Submission
Submissions are by email to nominations@asc-cybernetics.org. Deadline is April 6, 2024, any time zone on Earth. Submitting teams must include at least one member in good standing of the ASC. A complete submission will include full information about the submitter or submitter group, and sufficient graphical content to provide the judges sufficient information to make a decision. While attaching large graphic files to email may be challenging, we will do our best, and may need to explore alternate means if warranted. Please consult in advance about any concerns.
Decision: Decisions will be made by the nominations committee: Cliff Joslyn (chair), Jane Jorgenson, and Jose Cabral Filho, in consultation with the ASC Executive Committee and President Paul Pangaro, by April 15, 2024. Any reviewer who wishes to submit themselves will be recused.
Final Fulfillment
The winning concept team will be required to produce a final product according to the criteria below by May 15, 2024.
Award: The winning concept will be awarded a $500 cash prize at the 2024 ASC Conference to be held in Washington DC in June.
Design
Artistic concept: A representation of the circularity of modeling called out by Mead and Heinz von Foerster at the origins of the second-order cybernetics movement, in a form which is realizable as a graphical treatment that can be printed and framed.
Originality: The design proposal must be original and not infringe upon any existing copyrights or trademarks.
Scalability: It should be scalable without losing its clarity or visual impact in the following sizes: 1, 6 and 10 inches (1.3, 15 and 25 cm).
Versatility: It should work well across various platforms and mediums, including digital and print, color and black-and-white.
Specifications and Formats
Color Options: If it includes color, it should have clear specifications for color usage (CMYK, RGB, Pantone) and also have a version that works in grayscale or black and white.
File Formats: Provide the design in various file formats suitable for different use cases, including vector formats (such as AI, EPS, SVG) for scalability and raster formats (such as PNG, JPEG) for web and print.
Resolution: For raster formats, ensure the design is provided in high resolution to maintain quality when printed or displayed on high-definition screens.
Submission
Presentation PDF: Each proposal should include a PDF with a clear presentation of the design, showcasing how it looks in different contexts and demonstrating its versatility.
Legal Considerations: Include a statement (in the presentation PDF) ensuring that the designer holds the rights to the design and grants permission for its use by the entity issuing the call for proposals.
Adaptability: By submitting your design, you grant ASC the right to make reasonable adjustments or adaptations to the proposal, if necessary, to better align with the entity’s branding requirements or enhance its effectiveness. These adjustments may include minor modifications to elements such as color, typography, layout, or composition. The designer acknowledges and agrees that such adjustments will be made in good faith and with the intention of improving the overall quality and suitability of the design for its intended use.
Para submeter ao prêmio, pelo menos uma pessoa da equipe precisa ser membro da ASC
ASC intends for membership in the society to be as inclusive and affordable as possible, and we are hoping to find opportunities for promote participation from a wider range of voices.
To encourage greater participation, especially by those with challenging circumstances arising from unequal regional distribution of wealth in the world economy, ASC is now offering the option for an equity level membership, on the basis of a self-determined contribution. Equity members have the same rights and benefits as Regular and Affiliate Members.
To join as an Equity Member:
1. Simply select the “Donate” button that appears on the ASC website and make a contribution to the ASC in a self-determined amount. (We suggest $20.00 US if that’s possible, but any amount is fine.)
2. Then please confirm by sending a follow-up email to membership@asc-cybernetics.org with the subject line Equity Membership.
