Design contests offer experience, exposure and excellent prizes

Entering design contests can give you valuable, practical experience if you are currently attending or planning to enroll in a graphic design school or animation school.

Offering exposure, feedback and often cash and other prizes, these contests are sponsored by many companies, organizations and universities. Whether you're looking for additional experience, artistic exposure, CAD training, or simply a creative outlet, you're likely to find a design contest to suit your needs.

The Art Institute and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition is held annually and offers high school seniors an amazing opportunity. A panel of industry professionals selects the local winners who will advance to compete in the nationwide competition with national judging occurring in April and May. A few lucky and talented poster designers will receive tuition awards up to full tuition scholarships to study graphic design at one of the Art Institute schools. The 2010 poster design theme was "Life is Better With Art In It."

The Seoul International Design Competition is open to artists of any design genre and reaches out to aspiring artists in every country in the world. Submissions are accepted through July 13. Hosted by the Seoul metropolitan government in conjunction with Designboom and showcased in a design fair, the theme is "Design for All," meaning a simple, universal design that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. There are three sub-categories - "Communication for All," "Product for All" and "Space for All" - all of which are judged by international industry professionals in August, resulting in cash prizes totaling $26,000 USD.

This past May marked the 20th anniversary of the annual Edgefest in Frisco, Texas. The outdoor, multi-artist, alternative rock concert was sponsored in part by Westwood College and was attended by more than 20,000 fans. In support of its signature event, radio station 102.1 FM, The Edge, promoted the Westwood Edgefest T-shirt Design Contest. Contestants designed a T-shirt keepsake for the concert, which had to include the Edge logo. In addition to owning the event's official T-shirt design, the winner was treated to VIP treatment at Edgefest. Students enrolled in The School of Design at the Westwood College - Dallas and Fort Worth Campuses were encouraged to enter the competition for course credit and a chance to win tickets of their own.

The Reebok Design Challenge gives innovative designers a chance to see their design ideas become a real product on the shelves. Entries must be innovative and exhibit unique product ideas for women ages 13 to 35 and follow the "Having Fun Staying in Shape" brand description. Whether submitting a sketch, prototype, or rough design idea, three lucky winners will walk away each March with a cash prize and the distinction of being a Reebok designer.

This is just a sampling of the thousands of design contests that are available for you to test your creative wings. Whether a seasoned professional or a nascent designer, these contests are worth checking out. You never know, your design might be the next big winner.

Courtesy of ARAcontent