A chance to display your work in the physical and virtual exhibition spaces of the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University, the See Yourself in SODA Competition 2024 is now open. 

Theme: Future 

This year the competition is about the Future. Think about how the future will look, feel and sound like in 3023 –  do you imagine a utopian or dystopian world? A place of perfection or post-apocalyptic? Think about our place as human beings and how we will interact with the world around us.  

We are looking for new, original pieces of work that explore the theme in an innovative way. 

At the end of the competition window, entries will be judged by our SODA panel of experts who will select the finalists.  

Your work, our space. Show us what you’ve got! 

SYIS Entry 2023: In Your Head – Summer Owen

Submission Requirements 

Work must be submitted digitally. We cannot accept physical work. The work must be conceived for a digital exhibition; therefore, it must be created considering a digital viewing experience. This will include screens and displays. It could also include a virtual viewing experience. Examples of work created for a virtual space may include video, photograph, immersive environment, sound environment, works that require an interaction with users, etc. 

Where content has been generated physically it needs to be scanned or photographed for upload to our social channels. Submission can be audio-visual and include still or moving images or a combination i.e., animation, film, video etc. 

You must have permission to use any work that you submit to us. In submitting your work to this competition, you agree to its display in our exhibition spaces and sharing on SODA’s social media channels. 

 For full submission requirements and recommended dimensions, please see this page. 

SYIS 2023 Winner: TBBOAE – Syed Shah

Why enter? 

This is the perfect opportunity to have your work showcased with Manchester Metropolitan University and the School of Digital Arts. 

Each category winner will have the opportunity to get their work seen publicly – around the SODA building – as part of the SODA and Manchester School of Art Degree Show. 

See the categories below: 

  • Best Student (School and Colleges) 
  • Best Student (University) 
  • Best Emerging Creative (1 year or less in industry)  
  • Best Façade 

All shortlisted entries will also be exhibited within a virtual gallery 

Prizes  

Pop-up exhibition: All winners will have their work exhibited alongside the SODA and Manchester School of Art Degree Show taking place in June 2024. The SODA and Manchester School of Art Degree is a notable event and an opportunity to have your work seen by the public and industry professionals.  

Choose to submit your work for the following spaces 

  • Inside SODA (internal screens) 
  • On the front of the SODA building (SODA Façade) 
  • Virtual Gallery 

Download our Specification Requirements page for full entry guidelines. 

How to submit 

To be considered for the competition, either post a thumbnail of your work to Instagram, tagging our Instagram account: 

@schoolofdigitalarts 

OR, if you don’t want to post your work on your grid, you can direct message the content to @schoolofdigitalarts Instagram account. 

IMPORTANT – to ensure your work is considered for the competition, please include the following in your post or direct message: 

  • Your name 
  • The name of your work 
  • The hashtag #SYiScomp 
  • Category hashtag (either #SchoolorCollege, #University or #EmergingCreative) 

Finalists will be contacted in the first instance via Instagram. Once selected, finalists will be asked to send a full resolution version of their work to SODA, formatted according to our Specification Requirements.   

Finalists 

Once contacted, you will need to email your entry to soda@mmu.ac.uk by the deadline ensuring it meets our submission requirements and including the following information in your email: 

  • Full Name: 
  • Age:  
  • Social handles (if applicable): 
  • Category: (i.e) School or College, University or Emerging Creatives (working in industry 1 year or less) 
  • Submission space: (i.e) SODA (internal screens), on the front of the SODA building (SODA Façade) or Virtual Gallery   
  • Link to submission: 

If your entry’s file size is too large to email, please send it via WeTransfer.com or Dropbox to the soda@mmu.ac.uk email address. 

By entering the competition, you are consenting to your entry being shared on SODA’s social media channels, website and screens. 

Deadline and key dates

The deadline for entries is 5pm on 15 May 2024, with judging taking place in late May. The exhibition of work will take place in June 2024.  

If you have any further enquiries about the competition, please contact: soda@mmu.ac.uk