Kit Hinrichs 2024 Typography Calendar-Click To Get!

2023 Entry Deadlines Completed
Next Up:
2024—The 18th Annual Spark Awards!

The Spark Awards Jury Has Completed Work!

The 2023 Bronzes, Silvers, Golds, Plats have been selected. The 2023 competitions have ended. It was a great show! Check out the Winners HERE

The 2024 Call For Entry begins February 1, 2024. All Earlybird, Standard and Final deadline dates are published below.

Overview
Spark has a two-phase process for entry fees. “Phase 1” consists of a basic registration fee, which all entrants pay to participate. These entries are then judged by the Spark Jury Chairs to select a shortlist of Finalists for the “Phase 2” live jury, which selects winners. There is a second fee for the shortlisted Finalists, which must be paid prior to the live jury sessions (before the deadline described below). Only the shortlisted Finalists pay this second fee. The shortlist will be announced by email and on the entrant’s gallery page.

Spark is unusual in having a long open entry period. Early entrants benefit from lower pricing and longer exposure and promotion in the Spark Galleries. Highly recommended! If you have a design to enter but it’s not finished, you can enter early to secure the lower price, and put temporary placeholder descriptions and images in the entry form. Then come back when your design is finished and upload the real stuff. To be safe, all final media should be in a month before deadline.

The Student Design Awards
The Spark international student competitions are open to any current University-level (or above) student, in any design category. All student design must be entered in either the Spring or the Fall Student competitions. All entries must be student work, not professional work. Entries may be submitted from any time period of the student’s study (could be a piece from last year, for example).

The 2024 Spring Student Competition Schedule
The Earlybird (Discounted Fee) Entry Period is February 1 to April 1
The Standard Fee Entry Period is April 2 to May 31
The Late and Final Entry Period is June 1 to June 28
Shortlisted Finalist Announcement for Phase 1 is July 6
Shortlisted Finalist Fee Payment Period is July 6 to July 14 (Shortlist Finalists Only)
Deadline For Finalist Fee: July 14 (Required for Phase 2 Winners Jury Selection)

The 2024 Professional Design Competitions
All 2024 Pro Design competition categories followed the same schedule, as seen below.* The Call For Entry begins February 1 and ends with our traditional November/December juries. The long lead time offers ample exposure in our website galleries and media, so jump in—the water’s fine! The “Pro” categories are open to all working professional-level designers and their organizations (no students).

The 2023 Pro Competition Schedule
The Earlybird (Discounted Fee) Entry Period is February 1 to May 31
The Standard Fee Entry Period is June 1 to October 14
The Late and Final Entry Period is October 15 to November 18
Shortlisted Finalist Announcement for Phase 1 is November 22
Shortlisted Finalist Fee Payment Period is November 22 to December 3 (Shortlist Finalists Only)
Deadline For Finalist Fee: December 3 (Required for Phase 2 Winners Jury Selection)

*Pro Categories include:
Product & Industrial Design
Spaces Design
Health, Medical & Universal Design
Graphic Design
Transport & Mobility Design
Package Design
Concept Pro Professional Designers In All Disciplines
Experience & Service Design Professional Designers In All Disciplines
Digital Design Professional Designers In All Disciplines
Spark-E Design Professional Designers In All Disciplines

 

(Note: All dates subject to change.)