2025 Decatur Book Festival Design Contest

2025 Decatur Book Festival Design Contest is now open for entries!

2025 Decatur Book Festival Design Contest : The Decatur Book Festival is turning 20 and invites talented designers to be a part of the celebration looking for a vertical design that can be featured on T-shirts, posters, flyers, and digital media.

➜ Short description

The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) is preparing for a momentous occasion, its 20th anniversary inviting talented designers to be a part of the celebration.

This year’s theme, “20 Years of Stories”, calls for a vibrant and engaging design that captures the spirit of shared narratives, diverse voices, and a thriving community. The organization is envisioning a bold, inclusive design, reminiscent of a joyful 20th birthday – a visual explosion of color and movement, perhaps depicting books bursting open like fireworks, characters dancing through a crowd, or pages transforming into scenes brimming with imagination and wonder.

Organiser is looking for a vertical design that can be featured on T-shirts, posters, flyers, and digital media.

It looking for fresh, modern interpretations that are both bold and readable, and welcomes designs that consider its diverse audience – readers of all ages and backgrounds are warmly welcomed.

Submitted design should prominently feature “20 Years of Stories” or “20th Anniversary”, serving as a clear and celebratory marker of this significant milestone. It needs to reflect the core values of community, diversity, storytelling, and celebration, aiming to resonate with a broad audience of readers of all ages and backgrounds. The artwork should utilize a maximum of 10 solid colors – ideally in Pantone (PMS) format – ensuring a professional and impactful presentation. Crucially, the design must be vector-friendly for screen printing, avoiding overly intricate details that might not translate well to the printing process.

➜ Submission requirements:

➜ The organization is requesting submissions as high-res PNG or JPG files (300 dpi, vertical orientation).
➜ If chosen, you’ll be required to provide the artwork as a vector file (.AI, .EPS, or SVG)
➜ Avoid gradients and tiny details that won’t translate well in screen printing

➜ Who may enter?

This competition is open to all vibrant and engaging design wordwide.

➜ Prize:

The winning artist will receive a $500 cash prize, prominent placement on all 2025 festival merchandise and digital platforms, recognition on the organization’s website and social media, and a special spotlight opportunity at the 20th anniversary celebration.