Photo Competition: What Does #beingathome Mean To You?

Paid partnership with the Association of the German Furniture Industry:

What does #beingathome mean to you? This is the question the Association of German Furniture has asked manufacturers, experts and designers as part of the #zuhausesein (#beingathome) initiative. And now they would like to hear from you! You are invited to enter an exciting global photo competition to show what #beingathome means to you. 

Sound interesting? Wait 'til you hear what the winner of each category will win:

• Integration of your picture in the photo exhibition at IMM Cologne 2020
• Integration of your picture in the German Design Book 2020
• Two tickets and one overnight stay to IMM Cologne 2020 (the VDM will provide a travel allowance of up to €500. The winner is responsible for making the booking which will be refunded by the VDM)
• A fab piece of furniture from a German furniture manufacturer

And the competition is open globally! Yes, really!

You can enter a maximum of one image per category, with ten categories in total. Details on how to enter can be found at the bottom of the page. But first, here's a list of the categories:

Outdoor Living

SK 07 Ritual bowl: designed by Stefan Knopp for JANUA, the winner of the Outdoor Living category will receive this expressive bowl which traverses the border between furniture and objet d'art. Turned out of a piece of wood, the bowls are then char burned, resulting in a unique surface with cracks, holes and fractures. Perfectly imperfect, the bowl can be used in daily life or regarded as art (or both!).

2. Tiny Spaces

The winning entry in the Tiny Spaces category will win a Super Light. This small light has a BIG story and is lighter than you think. The reason? It has been expertly crafted using the same light construction process found in the aircraft industry. Made to last with powdered aluminium and 41 rivets set by hand, Bordbar designed this fab light so you can have a little piece of aircraft construction in your home!

3. The Hallway - the ticket to your home

LINE coat rack:  Hallways are all about making people feel welcome. And that is exactly what Schönbuch prides itself on in the production of creative, functional furnishings, fittings and concepts. The winner of the 'The Hallway' category will win a classic LINE coat rack which is available in countless colours and finishes and can be used solo or in a group - monochrome or multi-coloured. You decide!

4. Kitchen Lover

The winner of the Kitchen Lover category will take a home a beautiful Fabella light! Inspired by a Fontane poem, this pear-shaped porcelain light was designed by Laura Straßer for Caussa. Depending on the strength and colour of the light bulb and the colour of the glazing, the porcelain shade becomes translucent and emits a warm glow for a wonderful, hygge atmosphere. Choose between four colours and a white or black textile cable.

5. Relaxed Sleeping

Pfeife Night Stand: Designed by Vitamin Design, who pride themselves on ecological and timeless, modern solid wood furniture, the Pfeife night stand is the dream prize in the 'Relaxed Sleeping' category. Made from a single oak trunk and characterised by open knots and cracks, it will look beautiful by the bed!

6.  The Living Room - my private retreat

Rolf Benz 953 footstool: Since it's foundation in 1964, Germany's best-known sofa brand Rolf Benz, takes cultural changes into consideration in the design of every piece.  In recent years, living spaces have become more flexible - calling for creative pieces of furniture. The winner of 'The Living Room' category will receive a 953 footstool, which can be moved effortlessly so you can put your feet up anywhere in your home!

7. The Bathroom - the private wellness temple

L-Cube shelf element: Quiet, clarity, space for contemplation. This is how designer Christian Werner described his vision for the L-Cube - a range of bathroom furniture for Duravit AG, a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The less distracting the bathroom, the more likely the occupant will find peace and relaxation. And the lucky winner of 'The Bathroom' category will certainly find peace with an L-Cube shelf element! 

8. Living with Children

Birdy: Poufs can take up a lot of space, but not this one! The 'Living with Children' prize is the birdy stool from Hülsta - an ideal piece for putting your feet up or as extra seating. Available in ten different pure new wool colours, the designer stool works equally well in the living room or a children's room. Plus, it's super cute!

9. Work at Home

Cantilever chair: Dynamic and innovative, Tojo Möbel GmbH develops multi awards winning furniture at affordable prices. The highly functional, space-saving and comfy Cantilever Chair has an exchangeable seat shell and can be dismantled when not in use - and has been reserved for the lucky winner of the Work at Home category.

10. Other Forms of Living (e.g. caravans)

S18 side table: The clever design of the S18 side table by Uli Budde for Thonet reads like an ode to the first Thonet bentwood classics. Made from a powder-coated base frame and a lacquered surface in black, this circular side table is waiting to add an exciting new perspective to the home of the winner of the 'Other Forms of Living' category.

Feeling inspired to enter the photo competition? Here are the next steps:

How to enter
1. Take a picture that answers the question 'What does #beingathome mean to you'? (you can enter up to ten photos - one for each category).
2. Share your image/s on your preferred social media channel: Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtags #zuhausesein and #beingathome and tag VDM (Facebook: (@zuhauseseinVDM), Instagram: (@zuhausesein_VDM) or Twitter: (@zuhausesein)
3. Like VDM on your preferred social media channel (Facebook: (@zuhauseseinVDM), Instagram: (@zuhausesein_VDM) or Twitter: (@zuhausesein)
4. Send your entry (photos must be at least 300 dpi) to zuhausesein@real-communications.com along with the following details:

• Name of the category you are entering
• Name
• Date of birth
• Country
• Telephone and email
• Name of your social media channel

The deadline for all submissions is 23.59 (GMT+1), 18th August, 2019. The winners will be announced here on 27th August, 2019.

Wishing you best of luck - I can't wait to see your entries!


Terms and conditions:
This competition is global; there are no country restrictions. Participants must be over 18 years of age. Only one entry can be submitted per category (maximum of ten submissions in total).

Data protection and legal Recourse:

Responsible: The Association of the German Furniture Industry e.V. (VDM is the organiser of this competition and is responsible for data protection. Real Communications will run the competition as an authorised service provider and handle the personal data entered or left behind by the participants in this campaign responsible. If you have any questions, you can contact the data protection officer of the association at info@moebelindustrie.de.

The essentials in brief; personal data requested from participants in order to participate in the VDM competition will be processed primarily for the purpose of running the competition. The processing of personal data takes place lawfully on the basis of the DSGVO, names - depending on the purpose - for the fulfilment of a contract or the execution of the competition. Only our service provider Real Communications has access to the data, which is only used for sending the prizes by post. We do not receive the data ourselves and do not pass it on to other third parties within the meaning of the DSGVO without our consent. We delete the data records as soon as the winners have been determined and notified, the prizes have been dispatched, no complaints or complaints regarding the competition are to be expected and, above all, insofar as there are no individual obligations under commercial or tax law to retain data. The latter may last up to 10 years.
A cash payment of the profit is not possible. The profit is transferable. legal recourse is excluded.

*The winner retains copyright of their own image but agrees to VDM using it on their social channels, website or publications for an unlimited period for the purpose of the #Zuhausesein campaign. All sources will be acknowledged. 

This post is sponsored by the Association of the German Furniture Industry - however, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.