Your success is not measured by how many awards you win, but it doesn’t hurt to get noticed. Here are some design competitions open to students that are a great way to get your work seen.

Best Design

March 2012

CMYK
Top 100 New Creatives #53 March 12, 2012

HOW
Promotional Design March 1, 2012

Communication Arts
Photography March 16, 2012

Graphis
Social/Political Posters March 9, 2012

April 2012

Creative Quarterly #28
April 27, 2012

may 2012

Communication Arts
Design May 11, 2012
Advertising May 11, 2012

June 2012

HOW
Logo Design June 1, 2012

Adobe Design Achievement Award
Submit entries before June 22, 2012

July 2012

HOW
Interactive Design July 2, 2012

August 2012

 

September 2012

Communication Arts
Typography September 9, 2012

October 2012

To be announced

November 2012

To be announced

December 2012

To be announced

Cost Average Cost
Cost Free or Inexpensive. These competitions either have an affordable student section, or often feature student work.
Communication arts

commarts.com/competitions
Cost
Average: $35 single entry / $70 series

Advertising
Design
Illustration
Interactive

cmyk

cmykmag.com
Cost
$45 for 15 images
Portfolio Ongoing
Web Ongoing

creative quarterly

cqjournal.com/callforentries
Cost 
$10 per entry
(4 times a year)
Design, Illustration, Advertising

art director's club

adcawards.org
Cost
$35 per entry

Design, Photography, Illustration
Interactive
Advertising

how design

howdesign.com/competitions
Cost
Average: $30-50 per entry
Poster Design
Promotion Design

print

printmag.com/competitions
Cost
$50-75 per entry

Student Cover Competition
New Visual Artists

graphis


graphis.com
Cost
$60 student entry

New Talent Annual

adobe design achievement awards

adobe.com/education/adaa/
Cost
FREE
Every June

Warning: Inspiration overload is possible, proceed with caution.