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 the following within one of the specified design categories above that were created within the last two (2) years in the following order:

• Five (5) pages* of either one (1) or two (2) primary projects and a 2-minute max video documenting process.
• Five (5) pages* of one (1) to five (5) additional projects.
• Artistic Questions: (100-250 words, or 1-minute video/audio recording for each)
  • Question 1: If you can only select three (3) objects in the world to keep with you at all times, what would they be and why?
  • Question 2: If your ability to design was taken away forever, how would that impact you?
• *A “page” consists of an image (or images) and text on a landscape slide that communicates a particular point in the design process. Submissions should clearly demonstrate skillset over the entire design process of each project from start to finish. This includes:
  • Research and ideation – mood/vision board, mind-mapping, websites/references, real world images, etc.
  • Development and creation – screenshots of work files, preliminary process images/models, sketches, mock-ups, etc.
  • Final physical piece – image(s) of the model/object in real life, video of it in use, etc.
• In the “Overview” space provided, please indicate when, how and why the project was created: list materials, software, resources used, i.e., Adobe Suite, Figma, CAD, Midjourney, ChatGPT, Claude, etc. Explain why and how you used these resources.

Page Layout Guidelines

• Do not limit your pages to only finished hero images.
• 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.
• While it is expected that you will consult with your teachers and mentors on your application, you are urged to submit work you feel best represents your creative design interests and the range of your design abilities.

NOTE: If you are selected as a winner with distinction and attend National YoungArts Week, a curator will select from the physical work(s) in your submission to be showcased in an exhibition as well as in an anthology.

Formatting Pages

• Page File Size: Minimum 1 MB/Maximum 20 MB.
• Page File Format: JPEG, 300 dpi.
• Convert images to color profile sRGB.

File Upload Guidelines

• Save and upload each page individually and name the files with their titles or Page 1, Page 2, etc., if untitled.
• Do not put your name or any identifying information in or on your files.
• The order you upload your work will be the order presented to the judges.
• Verify that the page and video image is upright (not sideways or upside down).

Intellectual Property and Copyright

• All submitted work must be entirely original and cannot infringe on the copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights of any other individual or entity.

NOTE: 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 obtaining permission to submit to YoungArts, if necessary.