The SPD-U Show & Tell Competition is Open!

 

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

 
 
 

 

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!

 

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.

 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 1st-Place Winner in Design

 

We're excited to wrap up our announcement of the 2024 Student Competition winners today with our 1st-place winner in Design, Lucy Roberts. Congrats Lucy!

Congrats to all our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered and made our judges' decision a tough one...we loved looking at your work and commend you all on your great pieces.

First Place - Design
Lucy Roberts

School: Norwich University of the Arts
Level: Third Year
Instructor: Andrew Johnson
Course Leader: Glen Robinson
Category: City/Regional


 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 1st-Place Winner in Illustration

 

We're excited to wrap up our announcement of the 2024 Student Competition winners today with our 1st-place winner in Illustration, Josi Svendsen. Congrats Josi!

Congrats to all our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered and made our judges' decision a tough one...we loved looking at your work and commend you all on your great pieces.

First Place - Illustration
Josi Svendsen

School: North Metropoltian TAFE
Instructor: Amie Mason
Category: Conceptual

Paint What We Percieve


 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 1st-Place Winner in Photography

 

We're excited to wrap up our announcement of the 2024 Student Competition winners today with our 1st-place winner in Photography, Katy Alldridge. Congrats Katy!

Congrats to all our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered and made our judges' decision a tough one...we loved looking at your work and commend you all on your great pieces.

First Place - Photography
Katy Alldridge

School: Norwich University of Arts
Instructor: Andrew Johnson
Course Leader: Glen Robinson
Category: Fashion/Beauty


 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 2nd-Place Winner in Design!

 

We're sharing our 2024 Student Competition winners this week and we're happy to share our 2nd-place winner in Design, Eden Harris. Congrats Eden!

Second Place - Design
Eden Harris

School: Norwich University of the Arts
Level: Third Year
Instructor: Andrew Johnson
Course Leader: Glen Robinson
Category: Sports/Adventure

 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 2nd-Place Winner in Photography!

 

We're sharing our 2024 Student Competition winners this week and we're happy to share our 2nd-place winner in Photography, Sarah Croibier. Congrats Sarah!

Second Place - Photography
Sarah Croibier

School: Miami Ad School
Instructor: Sarah Wood
Category: Portrait

 
 

Congrats to our 2024 Student Competition 3rd-Place Winner in Design!

 

We're sharing our 2024 Student Competition winners this week and we're happy to share our 3rd-place winner in Design, Cat Slaymaker. Congrats Cat!

Third Place - Design
Cat Slaymaker

School: Norwich University of the Arts
Year: Third Year
Instructor: Andrew Johnson
Course Leader: Glen Robinson
Category: Sports/Adventure