Designers are “agents of change”: They re-imagine our world by creating new products, experiences and services. Within YoungArts, the Design discipline does NOT include illustration, comic book art, character design, coding or gaming design.

This discipline is for designers who design for the “real world” in the following categories:

• Architectural Design (includes building, interior, landscape, environmental, set design)
• Product Design (includes product, furniture, toy, vehicle design)
• UI/UX Design (includes app, website, product interface)
• Graphic Design (includes communication, packaging, book, signage)
• Fashion Design (includes clothing, accessories, jewelry, costume)
• Cross-disciplinary Design (a combination of any of the above)

Application Requirements

• Submit a portfolio of ten (10) individual pages* of at least two (2) projects that demonstrate your skills over the entire design process, from design research, to ideation, to design development, to finalization. Do not limit your images to only finished hero images. Sketches, models, renderings, collages, and videos are all acceptable and encouraged. Documentation of work should be of high quality, creative, innovative, and clearly show skill set.
• Required: At least two (2) of the ten (10) pages/images should show preliminary process images/sketches and/or preliminary models/mock-ups that specifically relate to the project’s evolution and development.  It is essential to demonstrate your inspiration, your editing process, and your skill as a craftsperson. If other people contributed to the final product, please list them and their role and discuss your method of collaboration.
• Required: A video, two (2) minutes maximum in length, to further show your design process and/or show the product/garment/object in use.
• Artistic Questions: (100-250 words, or 30-second video/audio recording for each)
  • Question 1: Explain why you chose these design projects.
  • Question 2: Describe a few challenges that you encountered while working on these projects and how you addressed them.

*A “page” consists of an image (or images) and text on a landscape slide that communicates a particular design idea. Your application will be viewed on a computer screen and a large TV. Please pay attention to the page layout. We will be assessing both the quality of each individual piece as well as your ability to clearly communicate through the page layout and information architecture of your portfolio.

NOTE: If you are selected as a Winner with Distinction and invited to attend National YoungArts Week, you will be part of an exhibition of works based on your portfolio submission. The curator will make selections for the exhibition from your portfolio.

Media Submission Guidelines

While it is expected that you will consult with your teachers and mentors in the selection of portfolio material, you are urged to submit work you feel best represents your creative design interests and the range of your design abilities.

• The work must fit within the list of specified design categories.
• The work must have been created during the past two years, in or out of school.
• Do not place your name, a watermark or any identifying information in or on your media submissions, including in the title of your files. Avoid including yourself in the photographic documentation of the work.

Technical Specifications

Formatting Images:

• Image File Size: Minimum 1 MB/Maximum 20 MB.
• Image File Format: JPEG, 300 dpi. (TIFF images will not be accepted.)
• Convert images to color profile sRGB.

Uploading Images:

• Each of the 10 pages/images must be saved and uploaded separately.
• In the spaces provided in the application, please indicate the title of the project (If untitled, can be named Project 1, Project 2, etc.), material/software used, and year created. If Midjourney, ChatGPT, or any other AI program is used, it must be noted.
• When uploading, verify that the page is upright (not sideways or upside down).

Intellectual Property and Copyright Requirements

• All submitted work must be entirely original and must not infringe on the copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights of any other individual or entity.
• You are welcome to submit materials that have been part of other applications, competitions, or projects. YoungArts does not own any works submitted to its competition, however if your work has been submitted to other competitions, you are responsible for getting permission to submit to YoungArts, if necessary.