Eligibility
The puzzle design must be first manufactured or otherwise made public no earlier than two years before the competition: July 2010 - June 2012. In this context, "design" refers to both the puzzle's operation and its physical appearance.
The puzzle must be a new design, or an inventive application of a known principle.
Each entry must be submitted by the actual designer (or designers) of the puzzle. Up to three entries are allowed from the same designer.
Anyone can participate with any qualifying design, regardless of Puzzle Party affiliation. The designer need not be a Puzzle Party participant. Additionally, the puzzle does not need to be part of the Exchange, nor does being in the Exchange necessarily qualify or disqualify a design. Participation in the Design Competition does not entitle the designer to an Puzzle Party invitation.
All commonly recognized classes of mechanical puzzles are eligible for the competition. This includes: Put Together, Take Apart, Interlocking, Disentanglement, Sequential Movement, Dexterity, Vessels, Vanish, Folding, and Impossible Objects.
If you are planning to submit a puzzle design, please send advance email to as early as possible, so that we know to expect your entry.
A complete entry, including the puzzles, must be in the hands of the committee no later than June 30, 2012 (approximately 1 month prior to the Puzzle Party). The entry must include the following:
2 complete, working versions of the puzzle - Prototypes are acceptable, but you must recognize that some judges may consider finished quality as significant. Puzzles may come from the designer or borrowed from other collections.
A detailed description - Use the online Entry Form to provide the following information for each entry:
Puzzle name
Designer
your name
e-mail address (for all official communication)
full mailing address (for returning your puzzles)
Manufacturer
Dates of design
Date of first public disclosure or manufacture
Materials used
Goal/problem statement
Solution (maximum one page; include images or drawings if needed)
Puzzle classification
Entry fee - Nonrefundable US$30 per design entered. Please make US$ checks payable to Nick Baxter. As a convenience, we will also accept cash ¥2,500 or €25. PayPal is accepted by arrangement (add 3% from the US; add 4% from outside the US).
Optional information:
Buyer's Guide: instructions for how collectors can purchase your puzzle after the Puzzle Party. Please include price and quantity produced.
Other descriptive information is welcome, including the relevant history, motivation, construction process, recommendation on how to present puzzle during judging, etc. However, please note that this information may be reduced or not included in the official judging guide.
Submit your entry in three parts:
Mail the entry fee and one puzzle to:
Nick Baxter/Puzzle Design Competition
801 Newhall Road
Hillsborough, CA 94010
USAMost puzzles shipped to the US will have the duty waived under the US Customs Service Harmonized Tariff Schedule, #9503.60.20.00. You should note this number on your customs form.
Complete the Online Entry Form. Any additional information (such as goal or solution images) should be submitted via email to .
Mail the second copy of the puzzle to the IPP32/Design Competition coordinator at ThinkFun (and send email to so they know to expect your package; email address to be provided soon):
ThinkFun / IPP Design Competition
1321 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2401
USAMost puzzles shipped to the US will have the duty waived under the US Customs Service Harmonized Tariff Schedule, #9503.60.20.00. You should note this number on your customs form.
The puzzles will be returned after the competition; all other portions of the submission will be retained by the committee and will not be returned. Puzzle Party attendees will pick up their puzzles at the Party. Others will be shipped by mail. Owners that request special mail services, or oversized puzzles, must pay the cost of additional postage or customs duty. The Competition Committee will not be responsible for puzzles lost or damaged during transit.
Each puzzle description submitted may be marked with an appropriate copyright. However, the puzzle itself should not include any identifying markings, if possible, so that the design can be kept anonymous during judging.
General
The names of the designers will not be revealed until the announcement of awards. This is a preference of the competition organizers and judges, and should also be observed by the participants.
Each participant understands that the puzzles will be subjected to hands-on use by a large number of Puzzle Party attendees during the judging process. Reasonable care will be taken by the organizers to prevent damage, but neither the Competition Committee, the Puzzle Party organizers, nor the Puzzle Party participants will be liable for any damage or loss due to such use.
It is possible that more designs are submitted than can reasonably be judged during IPP by the jury and by the Puzzle Party participants. If the total number of entries is greater than 60, then the judging committee may perform a first round of judging prior to the IPP, reducing the number of entries to no less than 60. As a courtesy, entries eliminated in this round will not by publicized, nor will they appear in the competition guides.
Photos and descriptions of the entries may appear in publications about or promoting the competition, including but not limited to the IPP Souvenir Booklet, CFF, and the Design Competition web site.
Any issues not covered by the existing rules will be resolved by the committee at its discretion.
These rules go into effect on October 31, 2011, and are considered unofficial and subject to change until that time. Any substantial rule changes made after October 31, 2011 will be noted below.
Rules Changes since Oct 31, 2011
None.
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