CASTELLARANO, ITALY -- Iris Ceramica and FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti, in collaboration with QN-Il Resto Del Carlino, have launched the second edition of the Active Design competition, “aimed at encouraging and promoting environmentally friendly design, a new way of conceiving of design with respect for the environment using eco-active environmentally friendly materials such as Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic2,” the company says.

The Active Design competition for architects, companies, clients and distributors will present awards to selected projects entered no later than March 31, 2012. Entries will be judged on the originality of the design in regards to sustainability, coupled with a futuristic design concept.

The panel of judges asked to choose the winners includes Graziano Verdi, Chairman and CEO of Iris Ceramica, Duccio Campagnoli, Chairman of Bologna Fiere, Giuseppe La Spada, digital artist, Gino Malacarne, Chancellor of “Aldo Rossi” University in Bologna, Luca Molinari, architect, critic and professor at the Second Architecture Faculty in Naples, and Sara Eleonora Parodi, the architect who won the first Active Design competition.

"In the wake of the first edition’s success, we decided to continue offering awards for the design of the future,” comments Graziano Verdi. “This year Iris Ceramica is 50 years old: an important milestone. Since 1961 we have been continuing our research into quality materials with perfect respect for the environment, as demonstrated by the success of Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™.”

For more information, the complete set of rules and registration form, visit:www.irisceramica.com/news_dettaglio.php?id=272.