Illustration Competitions
Illustration competitions are a great way for artists to showcase their skills, gain recognition, and connect with a wider audience. Participating in these contests can provide significant exposure, professional development opportunities, and sometimes even monetary rewards.
This blog explores sixteen notable illustration competitions, get into what they entail, and provide guidance on how to participate.
Table of Contents
1. A’ Design Awards
Overview
The A’ Design Awards are among the most prestigious design competitions in the world, recognizing excellence in various design fields, including illustration. They celebrate innovative and high-quality designs that push the boundaries of creativity and functionality.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to designers, artists, and companies worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your illustration through the A’ Design Awards website. Detailed submission guidelines and criteria are provided.
- Judging: Entries are evaluated by an international panel of experts.
- Deadline: Annual submission with varying deadlines.
A’ design awards – awards in medical illustration
2. World Illustration Awards
Overview
Organized by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, the World Illustration Awards celebrate the best in illustration from around the globe, covering various categories including editorial, advertising, and scientific illustration.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to professional and new talent illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your work online through the AOI website. Follow the detailed guidelines for each category.
- Judging: Judged by a diverse panel of industry experts.
- Deadline: Annual competition with specific deadlines for each category.
3. The Margaret Flockton Award
Overview
This award honors excellence in scientific botanical illustration. Named after Margaret Flockton, a pioneer in botanical illustration, it seeks to promote detailed and accurate depictions of plant life.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to botanical illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit original botanical illustrations as per the guidelines provided on the website.
- Judging: Assessed by a panel of botanical experts.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines usually in the first quarter of the year.
4. Cobb Nematology Foundation Science and Art Awards
Overview
This competition celebrates artistic achievements in the depiction of nematodes, promoting scientifically accurate and artistically compelling illustrations of these microscopic creatures.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to all artists with an interest in nematology.
- Submission Process: Submit illustrations as per the detailed guidelines on the Cobb Foundation website.
- Judging: Evaluated by nematology experts and artists.
- Deadline: Annual competition with specific deadlines.
5. iJungle Illustration Awards
Overview
The iJungle Illustration Awards is an international competition recognizing outstanding work in various categories, including book, editorial, and commercial illustration.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators, agencies, and art directors worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit entries online via the iJungle Awards website. Follow the category-specific guidelines.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of industry professionals.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in late autumn.
6. Emerging Illustrators Contest
Overview
This contest aims to recognize and support new talent in the illustration field, providing a platform for emerging illustrators to showcase their work and gain exposure.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to emerging illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your illustrations online, following the guidelines provided on the contest website.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of established illustrators and industry experts.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines typically in early spring.
7. Society of Illustrators Awards
Overview
The Society of Illustrators Awards are highly prestigious, honoring the best illustrations across various categories, including book, editorial, and advertising illustration.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your work online via the Society of Illustrators website. Adhere to the detailed submission guidelines for each category.
- Judging: Assessed by a panel of renowned illustrators and industry professionals.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines in autumn.
8. BBA Artist Prize
Overview
The BBA Artist Prize is an international art competition that includes a category for illustration, seeking to recognize artists who demonstrate exceptional skill and innovation.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your illustrations online via the BBA Gallery website. Follow the submission guidelines carefully.
- Judging: Judged by an international panel of art experts.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines in spring.
9. IlluSalon Awards
Overview
The IlluSalon Awards promote excellence in illustration across various fields, including medical and scientific illustration. This competition looks for illustrations that combine artistic creativity with scientific accuracy.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your work online through the IlluSalon website, adhering to the category-specific guidelines.
- Judging: Evaluated by a panel of industry professionals.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in late summer.
10. Instruct ERIC Image Competition
Overview
The Instruct ERIC Image Competition celebrates the best scientific and medical illustrations and images produced within the Instruct ERIC community.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to members of the Instruct ERIC community.
- Submission Process: Submit illustrations or images online, following the guidelines provided on the Instruct ERIC website.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of scientists and visual communication experts.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines in early summer.
11. Children’s Book Illustration Awards
Overview
The Children’s Book Illustration Awards recognize outstanding illustrations in children’s literature, celebrating creativity, technical skill, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to young audiences.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit illustrations through the contest website, following the detailed guidelines.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of children’s book authors, illustrators, and educators.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in early autumn.
12. Caldecott Medal
Overview
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to artists of children’s picture books published in the United States.
- Submission Process: Books are submitted by publishers to the American Library Association for consideration.
- Judging: Judged by a committee of librarians and children’s literature experts.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in late spring.
13. BioArt Awards (FASEB)
Overview
The BioArt Awards, organized by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), celebrate the intersection of art and science, highlighting visually stunning representations of biological research.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to researchers, scientists, and illustrators.
- Submission Process: Submit your artwork through the FASEB website, following the submission guidelines.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of scientists and visual communication experts.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines in late summer.
14. DIELINE Awards
Overview
The DIELINE Awards recognize the best in packaging design, including categories that celebrate the use of illustration in packaging. This competition highlights creative and functional design in product packaging.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to designers and illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your packaging designs online via the DIELINE Awards website, following the submission guidelines.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of industry professionals.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in early spring.
15. Applied Arts Awards
Overview
The Applied Arts Awards celebrate creative excellence in visual communications, including medical and scientific illustration. This competition seeks high-quality, innovative illustrations that effectively communicate scientific concepts.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators worldwide.
- Submission Process: Submit your work online through the Applied Arts website, adhering to the category-specific guidelines.
- Judging: Evaluated by a panel of industry professionals.
- Deadline: Annual competition with submission deadlines in late spring.
16. V&A Illustration Awards
Overview
The V&A Illustration Awards, organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, recognize the best illustrations published in the UK. The competition includes categories for book illustration, editorial illustration, and student illustration.
How to Participate
- Eligibility: Open to illustrators whose work has been published in the UK.
- Submission Process: Submit your illustrations through the V&A website, following the detailed guidelines.
- Judging: Judged by a panel of art and illustration experts.
- Deadline: Annual submission with deadlines in early winter.
Conclusion
Participating in illustration competitions is an excellent way for illustrators to gain recognition, improve their skills, and expand their professional networks. Each of these fifteen competitions offers unique opportunities and rewards for illustrators, whether they are emerging talents or established professionals. By carefully selecting the competitions that best match their work and following the submission guidelines, illustrators can maximize their chances of success and enhance their careers in the field of illustration.
