Design Muscat Competition 2026

The Design Muscat Competition is a prestigious biennial initiative providing recognition and support for exceptional talents in the fields of design across Oman. The winning designers will receive valuable guidance, and have the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience.

Competition Name: Al Daira

Competition Concept: 

The competition explores and draws inspiration from artistic solutions and approaches, and examines how the circle has been represented as an artistic motif across different cultures. Examples include: Circles in Islamic Arts / Circles in Mythology / Circles in Popular Culture / Circles in Modern and Contemporary Arts, as well as other creative ideas and solutions.

Multiple Artistic Approaches:

Circle as a Symbol of Life

• • Idea: Using the circle as a symbol of life, such as natural cycles, renewal, or seasons.

  • Application: Artists can create works that express renewal through materials and color.

The Circle in Architectural Design

• • Idea: Draw inspiration from circular forms in architecture.

  • Application: Create three-dimensional models or artworks that express circular architectural structures.

Audience Interaction with the Circle

• • Idea: Design interactive works where the audience can participate in the circle's formation.

  • Application: Use techniques such as Augmented Reality (AR) or create works that the audience can modify.

The Circle as an Element in Digital Arts

• • Idea: Use software to create artworks based on the circle.

  • Application: Digital works that include moving or interactive circles.

Circles and Colors

• • Idea: Exploring the effect of colors and circles on emotions.

  • Application: Create works that use colors in a way that reflects different feelings through circular shapes.

The Circle in Nature

• • Idea: Draw inspiration from circular shapes found in nature, such as flowers, fruits, or planets.

  • Application: Use natural or sustainable materials to create artworks.

Sensory Experiences with the Circle

• • Idea: Create works based on different senses (e.g., sound, touch, or smell) with a focus on the circular shape.

  • Application: Materials that produce sounds or provide a different sensation when touched can be used.

The Circle and Time

• • Idea: Explore the relationship between the circle and time, such as clocks or time cycles.

  • Application: Create works that reflect the concept of time through circular designs.

Circles in Kinetic Arts

• • Idea: Develop moving artworks based on circles.

  • Application: Use motors or kinetic techniques to create dynamic effects.

With these ideas, the competition can foster creativity and diversity in the submitted works, providing a rich platform for artists to explore the concept of the circle in new and innovative ways.

Competition Objective

• To showcase the creative visual artworks of professional artists and art students and encourage them to explore the concept of the circle as a geometric and cultural symbol through their participation in the competition.

• To promote creative thinking by addressing the circle as a shape, idea, and concept in artworks.

Terms and Specifications: 

Participation

• Open to professional artists and art students.

• A brief curriculum vitae (CV) must be submitted, accompanied by a picture of the artwork.

Artworks

• Any materials can be used (e.g., wood, metal, glass, fabric, paper, plaster, plastics, polyester, etc.).

• Works must be inspired by the concept of the circle, whether in form, composition, or idea.

• Minimum work size: 30 cm x 30 x cm x 30 cm

• Maximum work size: 100 cm x 100 x cm x 100 cm

• Artworks that do not conform to the conditions will be excluded.

• Artists are entitled to participate with only one artwork to allow the maximum number of artists to participate.

• Artists may use cultural symbols or elements related to the circle.

• Works must be original, from the artist's recent production, and must not have been previously submitted to any other competition.

Registration

• Registration is online through the competition website.

• Submit high-quality photos of the artwork with a brief description explaining the work's idea.

Dates

 Registration Period: March 1 to April 1

Handover of Works to the Receiving Committee: April 10 to April 15

Works approved by the screening committee will be handed over to the exhibition preparation committee.

Announcement of Winners: April 20 (at the opening of Design Muscat)

Exhibition Opening Date: April 20 to May 5

Judging Panel

• Composed of three to five experts in contemporary art and design.

• Works will be evaluated based on creativity, technique, and artistic message.

Awards

• First Prize: 700 OMR with a Certificate of Appreciation.

• Second Prize: 500 OMR with a Certificate of Appreciation.

• Third Prize: 300 OMR with a Certificate of Appreciation.

• Incentive Prizes for the best works addressing the concept of the circle.

Exhibition

• Winning and participating works will be displayed in an exhibition held at the Scientific College of Design.

• Artists may sell their works during the exhibition, provided they are delivered after the exhibition concludes.

Marketing and Publicity

• The competition will be promoted through social media and art websites.

• A catalogue will be prepared, including the names of the participating artists and their works.

Legal Terms

• The Scientific College of Design reserves the right to use images of the winning works for future publicity and promotion of the competition or as it deems appropriate.

Contact

• A means of contact (email/phone number) must be provided for inquiries or support requests with the organizers.

Inspiration and Guidance

Workshops or lectures may be offered on the concept of the circle in art and how to integrate it into artworks, helping participants develop their ideas.

Examples of the Circle in Contemporary Arts

Circles in Visual Arts

• • Example: "Colored Circles" by Douglas Gordon, where the artist used circles as a means to express movement and color. His works include colorful circular formations that interact with light, creating stunning visual effects.

The Circle in Art Installation

• • Example: "Overlapping Circles" by Olafur Eliasson

  • Eliasson used circles to create interactive installations that immerse visitors in a visual experience. His works rely on circular shapes to form new spaces that reflect the interactions of light and shadow.

Digital Art

• • Example: "Circles of Life" by Francesco Biza

  • In his digital works, Biza used circles to illustrate the cycles of life and nature. His works include kinetic effects that show how the circles change over time.

The Circle in Experimental Arts

• • Example: "Acoustic Circles" by Kylie Harris

  • Harris used circles as a means to represent sound. Her works include an installation that uses circles to produce different sounds, creating a multi-dimensional sensory experience.

Circles in Popular Arts

• • Example: "Circles of Hope" by local community artists

  • In many community art projects, circles have been used as a symbol of hope and unity. These works can be found in murals or public arts that reflect community values.

The Circle as a Social Symbol

• • Example: "Circles of Change" by the Contemporary Art Movement

  • Some art projects used circles as a symbol to embody collaboration and social change. These works typically include interactive elements that invite the public to participate.

Circles in Architectural Design

• • Example: "The Circles Hall" by Zaha Hadid

  • Hadid used circular shapes in architectural designs, where her dynamic designs reflect the concept of movement and flow, making the spaces more vibrant.

Conclusion

Contemporary arts address the circle from multiple angles, ranging from visual arts to installation and digital art. The circle represents a symbol of continuity, connection, movement, and communication, making it a rich element for exploring creativity and artistic thought.

For inquiries, contact the following email: dm@scd.edu.om 

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