Optical Illusions in Real Life! Design Competition - Winners Announced! November 30, 2011

The months leading up to winter can be pretty relentless. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. But amidst the sludgy, sunless air, the moth-eaten winterwear, and those biting dark mornings, we have found solace in the Optical Illusions in Real Life! Design Competition, which has kept a smile on our faces all autumn long. So, to all the perspective twisters, the Photoshop wizards and the tilt-shift lens owners out there: we salute you. And we thank you, sincerely, for so thoroughly distracting us over the past few months. We only wish we could honor you all! Jury Prize 1: Apple iMac (21.5-inch: 2.5GHz)
“Old Green” by Felipelambert, France
Felipelambert scoops our top spot and a brand new iMac for his striking submission, Old Green. The jury loved the aesthetic harmony of colours, the enigmatic behavior of the subject, and, most of all, the way it plays, oh so subtly, upon that sense of dizziness you always get with moving escalators. There’s no cheap tricks, no gimmicks, just an angular web of intersecting lines and angles that just leave you feeling ever so slightly disorientated. Judging by the figure in the image, we aren’t the only ones! Jury Prize 2: iPad 2
“Keep Falling Down” by Gordon Stone Mcbryde, U.K. UK photographer Gordon Stone McBryde creates a dazzlingly simple yet powerful illusion with his entry, Keep Falling Down. One trampoline, one grey day and one rotate function were all it took to craft the image – yet its simplicity belies its stark visual punch. For Gordon, the story behind the photo is “metaphorical… it is about the times when we fall and encounter resistance.” There’s no resistance here, Gordon! Jury Prize 3: Kenneth Cole Messenger Bag
“Freshly Squeezed” by Stuart Coulter, U.K. Stuart Coulter secured his spot on the winners’ podium with this tricksy orange juice illusion.  A good optical illusion really squeezes every drop of potential from an image, and we thought Stuart's piece did just that. Popular Vote Prize: Apple iTunes Gift Card (for approx. 100 songs)
'Discovering the City' by Luciusenfabula, Italy Once again, the MINI Space community has found a real talent to champion. Lucio Barbuio’s Discovering the City has the visual impact of a tourism bureau print ad, with a cheekily subversive (and literal) twist. They may look intense, but we wouldn’t give the boys too much credit for all that death defying urban adventuring… Right, we’re off to lie down in a dark room. If the vertigo hasn’t got to you yet, scroll through our runners-up gallery for a whole range of tricks and trompe l‘oeils.  And if you’re feeling inspired, get involved with our current design competition, Chromania!, for a chance to win some top dollar prizes! Related Links:
All Entries
Chromania!