Vase Tissue Holder by Di Lu & Junfeng Wang

Just Enter Your Best Work

Spark has a very open entry system, for every possible type of design within the disciplines covered.  Thus, we have listed a large number of categories and specialties. Sometimes, a design may even fit more than one area. Don’t worry about choosing the “best” one when registering. Everything is judged on its merits. Designs are judged in the context of our Criteria.

There are no rigid divisions—design types are listed here so a designer feels that their work is appropriate and welcome. We can have any number of winners—or none, in any given area. All depends on the work, and the design sensibility of jury. That’s why we work hard to find tough, fair and collegial judges. Any student design, in any media may be submitted, including designs previously submitted to Spark competitions. Only students may enter this competition.

STUDENT DESIGN CATEGORY GUIDANCE

SPACES– ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, URBAN PLANNING

Buildings, Public Architecture, Interior Design, Offices, Universal Design, Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Arches, Bridges, Viaducts and Gateways, Landmarks, Memorials, Public Spaces, Parks, Vistas, Plazas, Pedestrian Walkways, Community Planning and Design

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Print & Publishing, Branding, Identity, Logos, Graphics, Advertising, Marketing Communications, Collateral, Outdoor, Direct Mail, Wayfinding, Informational Kiosks & Terminals, Infographics, Illustration, Concepts & Pre-production

PACKAGING

Point-of-sale (POP), Retail Packaging (all products & services, consumer and industrial) Boxes, Containers, Shipping Cartons, Promotional Displays, Exhibitions, 3D Graphics, Materials, Graphics, Labels

DIGITAL

Multi-media Games, Console, Apps, Software, Motion Design, Film, Advertising, Video: Interstitials, PSA’s, Station ID, Special Effects, Animation, Websites, Blogs, E-zines, Online Retail, Social Media, Interactive, UX, Industrial, Telecom, Appliance & Product Interfaces, Communication Systems

PRODUCT

Electronics—Telecom, Mobile, AV, PCs, Tablets, Engineering, Fitness, Outdoor & Sporting Goods, Consumer goods, Appliances, Imaging & Photography, Industrial & Consumer Tools & Equipment, Jewelry, Timepieces, Awards, Trophies, Luxury Goods, Kitchen, Domestic & Bath, Lighting, Materials, textiles, Fabrics, Tech Clothing, Multi-disciplinary Projects, Residential, Street & Office Furniture, Furnishings, Robotics, Security, Privacy, Sensors, Smart & AI Home Devices, Wearable Tech, Smart Watches

FURNITURE & OUTDOOR

Residential, Street  & Office Furniture & Fittings

SPARK-E

The “E” in Spark-E stands for all of the big E’s: Environment, Energy, Ecology. it’s about Green, Carbon-lowering and Sustainable Design

HEALTH

Medical devices, heath, well-being and welfare, pandemic solutions

MOBILITY & TRANSPORT

Here are some examples of student work from the Spark Galleries.

And Always Include the Essentials:
Project Objective
Project Results
Project Background