Chicago Scholars Merch Store Design Contest

Chicago Scholars has opened a merch store! With the launch of the store, we want to be sure our store truly represents our Scholars and Alumni. To do that, we’re hosting a design contest! Read below for the full details of the contest:

The brief:

Your task is to make a design suitable for a piece of CS merch. This will need to be a square design that can be uploaded to our merch platform for use on items. Your design should represent the feel and energy of Chicago Scholars, but it does not necessarily have to say the words “Chicago Scholars.” Some possibilities include display text highlighting a great slogan; a digital illustration of something from your CS experience; a representation of a CS “in-joke”; a play on our existing branding. At this stage, anything goes!

If a Chicago Scholars logo does not appear in your design, we reserve the right to put it somewhere on the final product.

The details:

Entries must be submitted in .png format, 12×14 inches or less, high-res image. Please note that 12×14 is the size of the printing area on the front of a t-shirt; smaller items are possible.

Chosen entrants will need to be submit packaged files of their design for resizing purposes, if possible. If you aren’t using software that allows for this, we’ll work it out.

Currently, we’re only equipped to use these designs on clothing, hats, and some drinkware. Please do not submit designs intended for other items.

Designs can be printed on items using DTF or DTG printing. If you have a preference let me know, otherwise I will choose based on the intricacy of your design.

All entries must be work- and school-appropriate. This includes memes and other references.

Your entry should be your own work and should not include any copyrighted materials.

The process:

Entries should be submitted via email to media@chicagoscholars.org. Include your design, its title, your name as you’d want to see it on our website, and your contact information.

The deadline is October 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

When all entries have been collected, Chicago Scholars staff will review them and select up to 10 finalists. These finalists will then be put up for public vote via poll distributed on CS social media, website and emails. The poll will close at 11:59 p.m. November 17.

All finalists’ designs will be used on tees in the CS merch shop.

Each of the top three winners from the public poll will win the following:

• Design used on CS merch shop shirts and hoodies/crewnecks
• One free print of their design on their choice of a tee, hoodie, or crewneck
• CS swag pack (shirt, pen, pencil, sticky notes, sticker, pinback button)

Third place will win the swag, shirt, and $50

Second place will win the swag, shirt, and $100

First place wins the swag, shirt, and $150