Article
Winners Announced: iLounge Wallpaper Contest
Few of our past contests have been easy to judge, but judging the iLounge Wallpaper Contest was one of the most difficult in memory. Of the roughly 750 entries we received, around 100 were at least “good,” and we felt that 62 were great enough to be serious contenders for our three top prizes. Since there were so many fantastic submissions, we wanted to award a few runners up with prizes, too, so we’ll be sending out iLounge t-shirts to several entries that were just outside our top three.
Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone for submitting such superb wallpaper. You can download full-sized versions of these entries (and nearly 1,200 other images) from our Desktop/Wallpaper Art Gallery, and enjoy them as desktop art on your own computer.
Grand Prize Winner, of an Apple iPhone:

iPodopolis, by Curtis Whaley
Editors’ Notes: “iPodopolis” was an early entry, and quickly established itself as the submission to beat. iLounge’s editors unanimously liked the image and agreed that it deserved to be one of our winners; it was strong on theme, and artistically interesting.
Second Prize Winner, of an Apple TV:

iLounge, by Mark Kempken
Editors’ Notes: Simply titled “iLounge,” Mark Kempken’s latest submission is a 3-D rendered but understated masterpiece. The required iPod sits subtly on a chair in a modern room, with an Apple TV - not required for the competition, but still eye-catching - and a modern widescreen television on a modern table system. As Larry Angell put it, “it just ‘feels good’ to me… I like how it’s not in your face.” It’s a subtle alternative to the heavily iPod-focused winner, and coincidentally fits its Second Place prize.
Third Prize Winner, of one iPod nano and one iPod shuffle in the winner’s selected colors (red and orange):

Happy Little Center (Versions 1-3), by Brian Joseph
Editors’ Notes: If “iPodopolis” is filled with iPods, and “iLounge” is more subtle, “Happy Little Center” is the fun, abstract take on the contest’s theme. As the artist explains, “I designed this wallpaper to describe what iLounge is to so many of us: a community that lives around the happy little center we call the iPod.” The blue version - our favorite - has a paper-like texture, while the green and orange versions are smooth.
Runners-Up:






We considered each of these entries - and some of the ones below - as top ten options to win the contest. The six entries above each win an iLounge t-shirt for their efforts. Below, we’ve highlighted just some of our other favorites. There are many, many others in the full Gallery.











Again, congratulations to all of the winners! Expect another contest - with even more amazing prizes - very, very soon.
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1
Congrats to the winners!
iPodopolis is amazing, very nice work.
Posted by macniatic in Panama on March 31, 2007 at 2:08 PM (PDT)
2
Judging had to be very difficult, most of the choices on the winners page I would have chosen myself. there where allot of others that could have easily been on that page. congratulations to all.
—
Thanks, Ernie
Posted by ErnzO on March 31, 2007 at 3:20 PM (PDT)
3
I cropped Mark’s wallpaper to fit on my MacBook, and it looks fantastic. Congrats to all on the great work!
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on March 31, 2007 at 4:27 PM (PDT)
4
Well, I’m finally glad the winners were announced. I knew the moment I saw Ipodopolis, it was going to win.
I submitted a couple entries myself, although they obviously weren’t on the same level as the winners or runner ups. Some of the wallpapers I thought would make it through actually did. I was also hoping an entry called “The Pods” would make it through.
I made a couple such as “Shuffle Spin” and “Shuffle Your Elements”. I also had another idea, but wouldn’t have been able to finish it for the deadline.
Congratulations to the winners again. You all deserve it!
Posted by ReFire on March 31, 2007 at 4:44 PM (PDT)
5
Just a congratulations to all the winners. There are some very very talented and imaginative people out there in the iLounge world. And to Curtis, the winner, your design was absolutely amazing. I’d love to know the story behind it; how you came up with it; and what program you used to create it.
Posted by John_KC on April 1, 2007 at 9:50 AM (PDT)
6
very impressive entries - well done and congrats to all
Posted by yinyang on April 2, 2007 at 5:20 AM (PDT)
7
Ipodopolis is brilliant. 1920x1200 would be even more brilliant
Posted by Ericc B on April 2, 2007 at 7:43 AM (PDT)
8
Hey! I love iPodopolis, definitely think it deserves the big win!
Just a question to the editor, not sure who to ask, but my entry was the 3rd place winner, “Happy Little Center” and I haven’t been contacted yet. Thanks for choosing my artwork, I am glad you liked it. I’m not even positive which of my 2 email addresses I provided when I submitted them. Is there something I should do or just sit tight?
Thanks!
Posted by greatbigme on April 2, 2007 at 12:30 PM (PDT)
9
wow, congrats to the other winners!!!
next to ipodopolis and brians illustrations i liked A LOT of other entries. i really couldn’t judge which one (including mine) deserved any of the prizes…
however, i didn’t receive an email yet, too.
and as i’m from germany, i suppose i’ll receive the 300,- Euros to buy an AppleTV instead of the AppleTV itself, right?
-mark
Posted by markkempken on April 6, 2007 at 11:30 AM (PDT)