2025-26 Poster Design Contest Instructions & Specifications
Theme: Glow Up and Grow Your Future in Graphic Communications
PURPOSE:
To educate students about scholarships available to them through PGSF. The winning Poster Designs will be used by PGSF to promote the PGSF Scholarships Program to students with an educational path in graphic communications leading to a career in the industry.
DESIGN DIRECTION:
There are a few required graphic elements and text listed below that must be incorporated into your design and easy for your audience to see. Please take these into consideration as you develop your creative, eye-catching visuals!
Poster design entries must include the following elements:
– Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation name
– PGSF logo
– QR Code
– Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be enrolled in a graphic communications program or related field at a U.S. technical school or college
- Must be a high school senior or graduate, or post-secondary student
- Must be able to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
– Scholarship Applications Due May 1, 2027
– Contact: PGSF.org | contact@pgsf.org
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Final Poster Size: 11 x 17 in tall. Must include crop marks plus ¼” bleed
Create a high-resolution PDF: image 300dpi in 4/color process (CMYK)
DUE DATE: PDF Entries must be submitted by Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
NAMING YOUR FINAL PDF Files:
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Firstname_lastname_schoolname_poster_2025_HighSchool
POST SECONDARY STUDENT: Firstname_lastname_schoolname_poster_2025_PostSecondary
The winner of the contest may be asked for native files required for reproduction. Files become the property of PGSF.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
– Posters will be printed in 11×17 in. size for display in schools. Poster may also be displayed as small as 5½× 8½-in. to display on a webpage. Please consider these dimensions when creating the graphics or choosing a typeface.
– Use of AI: Students are highly encouraged to generate original concepts, artwork and editing using the digital and analog tools available to them. We appreciate the use of AI as a resource in the creative process but expect submissions to be created by individuals tapping into their own library of skills.
– Files should be saved as high resolution and stay under 10MB in final size. Any questions on preparing proper files for print? Check out this Adobe reference page: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/preparing-pdfs-service-providers.html
– Include on the poster file itself the school name and name of individual designer or design team members. Please place near lower border or on the second page in smaller type.
– Remember this is to be seen at a distance and easily read! Bright, highly visible colors, appropriate font sizes and high-resolution images are strongly suggested.
Entries submitted with missing elements and/or incorrect specifications will be disqualified.
The winner will be notified by May 1, 2026.
The department in which the student is enrolled will receive a plaque for display. If you have any questions, please email dianne.bullas@pgsf.org or call 503-572-6610.
Submit PDF Entries Here