The Giftware Association’s ceo Sarah Ward will once again join the judging panel of Brand Licensing Europe’s Kelvyn Gardner’s License This! competition. The show takes place at London’s ExCeL from 20-22 September, with the finalists pitching to the judges at a live final on the last day of the show.
The competition, which closes on 26 August, boosts the profile of new brands, illustrators, inventors and product designers, helping them to successfully break into the $300 billion global licensing market.
Entrants are invited to enter one of three categories. The first two are aimed at unlicensed brands and properties – often with a focus on illustration, publishing or animation – which are keen to secure a licensing deal or agency representation.
They are:
- Kelvyn Gardner License This! Character & Animation
- Kelvyn Gardner License This! Brand & Design
The judging panel will be looking for new creative concepts which have the potential to inspire multiple product categories, with the winners receiving a free exhibition stand at BLE 2023.
Additionally, student designers and inventors are invited to enter a third award category, which made its successful debut in 2021:
- Product Design. in partnership with Mojo Nation
From 2022, the category will open to students from further education or university level to enter. Working alongside local universities and schools, students will be competing with one another to showcase innovation in toy design.
Once again, BLE will partner with Aardman, with students asked to use the studio’s Wallace & Gromit IP as inspiration.
All three categories are being asked to take sustainability into consideration.
The full judging panel includes: Ian Downes, director, Start Licensing (chairman of the judging panel); Phil King, managing director, Trademark Products; Sabrina Segalov, senior licensing manager, Sanrio Global; Emily Fawcett, head of global licensing, Abysse Corp; Dan Grant, licensing director, Danilo: Teri Niadna, managing director, Brandgenuity; Sarah Ward, ceo, The Giftware Association; Clare Piggott, director of licensing and merchandising, Larkshead Licensing; Billy Langsworthy, co-founder, Mojo Nation & Brands; Untapped; Sarah Lawrence, director, This Is Iris; Dale Boreham, senior design manager, Moonpig; Maxine Lister, head of licensing, Natural History Museum; Rob Goodchild, commercial director, Aardman, and Charlie Langhorne, director, Wild in Art.
Visit www.brandlicensing.eu
Top: Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) will take place at London’s ExCeL from 20-22 September.
