The 2026 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

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The 2026 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

Enter by Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 5:00PM ET!

Check it out and enter in our Design, Photography, & Illustration categories!

WANT TO ENTER? GET THE DETAILS BELOW!

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY FORM
Download the official CALL FOR ENTRIES with the complete rules and entry form HERE!

DEADLINE
Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 5:00PM ET
SPD must receive all student entries, completed entry forms, and payment receipts by March 20th at 5:00PM ET.

ENTRY FEES / PAYMENT
SPD Student Members get their first 3 entries FREE! (Though student members can enter more than that...if you do, any additional entries will cost $10 each.) Please note: Even though they're free, you must register your 3 free member entries HERE.

If you're not a member but would like to join, you can purchase your SPD Student Membership and register for your 3 free member entries at the same time HERE.

Otherwise, each entry is $10.

PRIZES
The first, second, and third place winners and runners-up in Design, Photography, and Illustration will be featured online at spd.org. Second and third place winners will also receive a 20-minute portfolio review with a board member.

In addition to being featured online, first place winners will also receive the following:
DESIGN: $1,200 + Summer 2026 Mentorship
PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,200 + Summer 2026 Mentorship
ILLUSTRATION: $1,200 + Summer 2026 Mentorship

Any questions? Email us at mail@spd.org.

Download the Call for Entries here!

You can pay your entry fees online here: http://bit.ly/SPD-U

YOU MUST INCLUDE THE RECEIPT WITH YOUR ENTRY. If we cannot find proof of payment or a valid SPD Student Membership, your entries may be disqualified.

Please upload your entries here: http://bit.ly/SPDentry

Make sure to include your entry form and payment receipt with your submission as one (1) PDF. You must fill out the entry form found in the call for entries.

Special thanks to last year’s 1st Place Design Winner Caitlin McIntosh for designing this year’s Call for Entries!



The SPD-U Show & Tell Competition is Open!

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Enter by Friday, September 5th at 5:00PM ET

Forget rules and forget formulas; just show us your best editorial work by entering the SPD-U Show & Tell Competition. Formerly known as the SPD-U Spotlight Competition, winners have gone on to work at brands such as The New York Times Magazine, Glamour, Men’s Health, Vice, and Esquire.

If your work is chosen by our jury of top-notch editorial design professionals, you’ll receive an awards certificate and we’ll showcase your work in an exclusive online gallery. It’s a great way to get your name and work in front of the entire SPD audience, which includes art directors with the power to hire fresh, young talent like yourself.

This competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students; it is also open to recent Spring/Summer 2025 graduates. There are categories for design, photography, illustration, motion graphics/GIFs, and digital. Please refer to the Call for Entries for more details.

 

Announcing the Judges for the 2025 SPD-U Student Competition

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We’re excited to announce the judges for 2025’s SPD-U Student Competition!
Thanks to the following creatives for taking the time to judge this year’s competition.

 
 

Katty Huertas

Illustrator/Art Director, The Washington Post

Jason James

Creative Director, Fig Industries

Anne Golden Latini

Art Director, Fast Company

Mike Miville

Photographer, MMiville Visuals

Brandon Penny

Senior Graphic Designer, Saks Fifth Avenue

 

The 2025 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

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The 2025 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

Enter by Friday, March 21st, 2025 at 5:00PM ET!

Check it out and enter in our Design, Photography, & Illustration categories!

WANT TO ENTER? GET THE DETAILS BELOW!

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY FORM
Download the official CALL FOR ENTRIES with the complete rules and entry form HERE!

DEADLINE
Friday, March 21st, 2025 at 5:00PM ET
SPD must receive all student entries, completed entry forms, and payment receipts by March 21st at 5:00PM ET.

ENTRY FEES / PAYMENT
SPD Student Members get their first 3 entries FREE! (Though student members can enter more than that...if you do, any additional entries will cost $10 each.) Please note: Even though they're free, you must register your 3 free member entries HERE.

If you're not a member but would like to join, you can purchase your SPD Student Membership and register for your 3 free member entries at the same time HERE.

Otherwise, each entry is $10.

PRIZES
The first, second, and third place winners and runners-up in Design, Photography, and Illustration will be featured online at spd.org. Second and third place winners will also receive a 20-minute portfolio review with a board member.

In addition to being featured online, first place winners will also receive the following:
DESIGN: $1,200 + Summer 2025 Mentorship
PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,200 + Summer 2025 Mentorship
ILLUSTRATION: $1,200 + Summer 2025 Mentorship

Any questions? Email us at mail@spd.org.

Download the Call for Entries here!

You can pay your entry fees online here: http://bit.ly/SPD-U

YOU MUST INCLUDE THE RECEIPT WITH YOUR ENTRY. If we cannot find proof of payment or a valid SPD Student Membership, your entries may be disqualified.

Please upload your entries here: http://bit.ly/SPDentry

Make sure to include your entry form and payment receipt with your submission as one (1) PDF. You must fill out the entry form found in the call for entries.

 
 

Announcing the Judges for the 2024 SPD-U Student Competition

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We’re excited to announce the judges for 2024’s SPD-U Student Competition!
Thanks to the following creatives for taking the time to judge this year’s competition.

 
 

Rachel Gogel

Independent Design Executive & Educator

Emil Lendof

Managing Photo Editor, The Wall Street Journal

Alexandra Mooney

Design Director, Cohan Design

Nick Mrozowski

Consulting Creative Director, Oishii

Lily Qian

Illustrator

 

The 2024 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

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The 2024 SPD-U Competition is now closed. Winners have been notified and the results will be posted Fall 2024.

Stay tuned for the 2025 SPD-U Competition Call for Entries!

The 2024 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

Enter by Friday, March 22nd, 2024 at 5:00PM ET!

Check it out and enter in our Design, Photography, & Illustration categories!

WANT TO ENTER? GET THE DETAILS BELOW!

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY FORM
Download the official CALL FOR ENTRIES with the complete rules and entry form HERE!

DEADLINE
Friday, March 22nd, 2024 at 5:00PM ET
SPD must receive all student entries, completed entry forms, and payment receipts by March 22nd at 5:00PM ET.

ENTRY FEES / PAYMENT
SPD Student Members get their first 3 entries FREE! (Though student members can enter more than that...if you do, any additional entries will cost $10 each.) Please note: Even though they're free, you must register your 3 free member entries HERE.

If you're not a member but would like to join, you can purchase your SPD Student Membership and register for your 3 free member entries at the same time HERE.

Otherwise, each entry is $10.

PRIZES
The first, second, and third place winners and runners-up in Design, Photography, and Illustration will be featured online at spd.org. Second and third place winners will also receive a 20-minute portfolio review with a board member.

In addition to being featured online, first place winners will also receive the following:
DESIGN: $1,200 + Summer 2024 Mentorship
PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,200 + Summer 2024 Mentorship
ILLUSTRATION: $1,200 + Summer 2024 Mentorship

Any questions? Email us at mail@spd.org.

Download the Call for Entries here!

You can pay your entry fees online here: http://bit.ly/SPD-U

YOU MUST INCLUDE THE RECEIPT WITH YOUR ENTRY. If we cannot find proof of payment or a valid SPD Student Membership, your entries may be disqualified.

Please upload your entries here: http://bit.ly/SPDentry

Make sure to include your entry form and payment receipt with your submission as one (1) PDF. You must fill out the entry form found in the call for entries.

 
 

The SPD-U Show & Tell Competition is Open!

/
 

Enter by Friday, October 27th at 5:00PM EST

Forget rules and forget formulas; just show us your best editorial work by entering the SPD-U Show & Tell Competition. Formerly known as the SPD-U Spotlight Competition, winners have gone on to work at publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Glamour, Men’s Health, Vice, and Esquire.

If your work is chosen by our jury of top-notch editorial design professionals, you’ll receive an awards certificate and we’ll showcase your work in an exclusive online gallery. It’s a great way to get your name and work in front of the entire SPD audience, which includes art directors with the power to hire fresh, young talent like yourself.

 

Announcing the Judges for the 2023 SPD-U Student Competition

/
 
 
 
 

We’re excited to announce the judges for 2023’s SPD-U Student Competition!
Thanks to the following creatives for taking the time to judge this year’s competition.

 
 

Steven Banks

Creative Director

Heather Jones

Freelance Information & Motion Graphics Designer

Tim Leong

Freelance Creative Director

Alice Morgan

Senior Art Director, Dotdash Meredith

Robert Perino

Executive Creative Director, Southern Living

 

The 2023 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

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design: katie belloff

The 2023 SPD-U Student Competition is Now Open!

Enter by Friday, March 24th, 2023 at 5:00PM ET!

Check it out and enter in our Design, Photography, & Illustration categories!

WANT TO ENTER? GET THE DETAILS BELOW!

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY FORM
Download the official CALL FOR ENTRIES with the complete rules and entry form HERE!

DEADLINE
Friday, March 24th, 2023 at 5:00PM ET

SPD must receive all student entries, completed entry forms, and payment receipts by March 24th at 5:00PM ET.

Please upload your entries here: http://bit.ly/SPDentry
Make sure to include your entry form and payment receipt with your submission as one (1) PDF. You must fill out the entry form found in the call for entries.

ENTRY FEES
SPD Student Members get their first 3 entries FREE! (Though student members can enter more than that...if you do, any additional entries will cost $10 each.) Please note: Even though they're free, you must register your 3 free member entries HERE.

If you're not a member but would like to join, you can purchase your SPD Student Membership and register for your 3 free member entries at the same time HERE.

Otherwise, each entry is $10.

You can pay your entry fees online HERE.

YOU MUST INCLUDE THE RECEIPT WITH YOUR ENTRY. If we cannot find proof of payment or a valid SPD Student Membership, your entries may be disqualified.

PRIZES
The first, second, and third place winners and runners-up in Design, Photography, and Illustration will be featured online at spd.org. Second and third place winners will also receive a 20-minute portfolio review with a board member.

In addition to being featured online, first place winners will also receive the following:
DESIGN: $1,200 + Summer 2023 Mentorship
PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,200 + Summer 2023 Mentorship
ILLUSTRATION: $1,200 + Summer 2023 Mentorship

Any questions? Email us at mail@spd.org.

Download the Call for Entries here!

 
 

Announcing the Judges for the 2022 SPD-U Student Competition

/
 
 
 
 

We’re excited to announce the judges for 2022’s SPD-U Student Competition!
Thanks to the following creatives for taking the time to judge this year’s competition.