Silmo Paris is inviting design students around the world to participate in the fourth edition of the Optical Design Contest, pushing the boundaries of design in the world of optics with the aim of “imagining eyewear as a real superhero”. 

This year, the competition explores the potential of eyewear to transcend its simple function. Participants have to design innovative frames that enhance vision and broaden our perception of the world, transform vision and the environment around them and redefine eyewear as a powerful technology, far beyond a simple health accessory.    

Designs will be judged on their innovation, functional relevance, responsible commitment and technical feasibility. Finalists will be announced in July 2025 and prototypes will be exhibited at Silmo Paris 2025, where the winning project will receive a prize of €10,000 (NZ$18,200), divided equally between the student/students and their school.  

The contest is open to students enrolled in their third, fourth or fifth year of a design course. Individual and team projects must be submitted by 16 June 2025. For more info, contact ibeuzen@silmo.fr 

Silmo jury president announced  

This year’s jury president is internationally recognised Belgian designer and interior architect Michel Penneman, who is renowned for his innovative hotel renovations and mastery of architectural narrative and colour.  

Michel Penneman

Since his first projects in the 1990s, he has adopted an eclectic, conceptual approach, marked by a particular interest in light, transparency and adapting to the spirit of place.