Design contests are a great way to show off your work and put your name out into the design community. You can even compete in design contests for money and other goodies. (And hey, who doesn’t want to win prizes?)
But finding the right contest can be a challenge. Some competitions are restricted to students, designers from a certain location, or only a handful of super-specific design disciplines. It can be maddening to sift through contest briefs only to find that you’re not eligible—or, even worse, that the deadline has expired.
If that sounds familiar, don’t panic. We’re here to help. With 26 upcoming contest briefs on our list, we’re sure you’ll find one that works for you.
Worth1000.com
Worth1000 is a website that lets its users compete in daily Photoshop manipulation contests. Wait for a topic that fits your interests, and then show off your design skills.
Threadless Design Challenge
Threadless is a clothing company looking for your creative designs to put on hoodies, T-shirts, and tanks.
Writers of the Future Illustrator Contest
This contest is open to amateur Sci-Fi and fantasy artists who are looking to gain exposure for their illustrations.
Photoshop Top 25 Under 25
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Adobe Photoshop is hosting the Top 25 Under 25 Contest. Graphic designers age 25 and under can post their work to Behance.net under the tag “Ps25Under25” to enter. Photoshop reps say the contest will be open for most of the year.
AIGA Sylvia Harris Citizen Design Award
Follow designer Sylvia Harris’s legacy of social impact design by submitting a design (in any discipline) associated with measurable goals to improve your community.
Taipei International Design Award
The city of Taipei is looking for designs with commercial potential to promote cultural development in the city.
Creative Allies Jam Cruise T-Shirt Design Contest
Design a T-shirt to be sold as merchandise on Jam Cruise 14, a music-themed cruise that includes stops in Florida, Belize, and Mexico.
HOW International Design Awards
Graphic, print, and web designers from around the world can submit work in more than fifteen categories including posters, packaging, illustration, and student work.
Grashan 2015 The 8th International Type Design Competition
Submit a non-Latin typeface to one of the competition’s ten categories to compete for the grand prize.
Aesthetica Art Prize 2015
This international art competition invites designers to submit in categories that include photography, 3D art, painting and drawing, and video.
Communication Arts Typography Competition
Entrants can submit typography designs ranging from calligraphy to packaging to digital media.
International Visual Identity Awards 2015
Create a visual identity for a company in one of twenty industries.
Terras Gauda Poster Design Competition 2015
This year’s entrants will be designing posters to honor Francesco Mantecon, a former Terras Gauda artist.
Hiii Illustration 2015 International Competition
Submissions are divided into two categories: commercial and noncommercial. Designers may submit print or web designs.
Company Folders Folder Design Contest
Submit a presentation folder design to the gallery for automatic entry into the contest. You could win a discount and have your work specially promoted on Company Folders’ site.
Communication Arts Interactive Competition
Entrants can submit any interactive online project, be it a website, mobile app, or other digital medium.
HOW Poster Design Awards
Design a unique poster showcasing a movie or band, letterpress, or typography.
Typography Day 2016 Poster Design Competition
This international poster design competition of experimental typography is hosted by Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, India.
Graphis New Talent Annual 2016
Only students are eligible for this contest aimed at helping future graphic designers get a foot in the door. You’ll need to create a Graphis account to view the requirements.
Peterson’s 4th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest
High school and college students submit greeting card designs for a chance to win $10,000 from Peterson’s, a company that helps students find information about colleges.
Embracing Our Differences 2016 Exhibition Competition
This international contest is seeking visual art submissions from around the world to celebrate diversity and individuality.
Communications Arts Illustration Competition
This international contest has nine categories of illustration and is calling for designs created within the past year.
Spectrum 22 Fantastic Art
Submit designs to this international contest in categories that include book covers, advertising, editorial, and more.
Silent Book Contest 2016
Silent books tell a story using only illustrations—no words allowed. Design your own silent book and submit it to this international contest.
Gallery Collection 9th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
High school and college students design a greeting card for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.
Monthly The Book Designer E-Book Cover Design Awards
You’ve published an e-book, and now you’re designing your own book cover. That’s a lot of hard work, so don’t let it go unnoticed. Submit your cover design to The Book Designer for a chance at a prize.
Do you run a design contest? Need more entries? Let designers know about your upcoming competitions in the comments below!
