GENERAL QUESTIONS

When can I start submitting work?

Submission officially opens Monday, February 6, 2023 and all entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023.

What does it cost to submit work?

Here’s a breakdown of our entry fees:

Professional (AIGA Member): $60 per entry
Professional (Non-Member): $75 per entry

Student (AIGA Member): $20 per entry
Student (Non-member): $30 per entry

Additional Discounts: Entrants who submit more than three (3) entries, will receive a $10 discount for additional entries.

Please note that our student entries require an official contact within your educational institution so that we can verify your eligibility. Professional work that is entered into the student competition will be disqualified.

What’s the difference between the student competition and the professional competition?

Our student competition recognizes student work created as part of a course or program at an accredited educational institution in DC, Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia. Our professional competition recognizes projects created by individuals (internships, freelancing, etc.) or firms.

Please note that our student entries require an official contact within your educational institution so that we can verify your eligibility. Professional work that is entered into the student competition will be disqualified.

Can I submit a project if I’m not living in the DC area?

To be eligible for an award, submissions must have been created by individuals, firms, or students in educational institutions based in DC, Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia.

Do I have to be a member of AIGA to submit work?

Yo do not have to be an AIGA member to submit work. However, the submission fee is discounted for members of AIGA DC, so join us today!

Please note that you must create an AIGA account (for free) to log into our submission platform. Professional work that is entered into the student competition will be disqualified.

Is there any other criteria for submitting work?

Submitted work must have been completed between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022.

Can I submit more than one project?

Absolutely! We encourage as many submissions as you’d like, as long as the projects were completed in the given timeframe.

If you submit more than three (3) entries, you will receive a $10 discount per additional entry.

Am I supposed to mail the entry pieces or submit photos?

We have a panel of expert judges distributed across the U.S. Therefore, we will only evaluate images, video, and web-accessible representations of your work, which you can upload with your entry. We understand that physical and experiential pieces may be difficult to fully appreciate as digital files, so we encourage you to submit as much supporting material with your entry so our judges can get a better sense of your work.

How do I submit multiple pictures or multiple file types (of a series, for example) of the same entry?

When you complete the entry form, you will be able to upload up to three (3) images, one (1) video, and three (3) URLs as supporting materials. If you have additional images or videos, we encourage you to use one of the three (3) URL fields and include a link to a publicly-accessible digital repository (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or a portfolio website) that contains additional images.

Who will be judging submissions?

You can find information about this year’s judges here.

STUDENT COMPETITION

Can I submit a project I worked on from an internship?

No. Only work completed as part of a course or program are eligible.

If I recently graduated, can I submit a project I did while in school?

As long as your entry was completed while you were a student and between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 , it counts!.

Can I submit a freelance project I worked on while in school?

Nope, only student assignments are accepted. You are welcome to submit your work through our professional competition.

Can I submit a submission I completed as a group project?

Yes! Ensure that you have your team members’ permission to submit the project. Please also note your role in the project and add your team members’ names and roles in the Additional Credits field.

AWARDS GALA

When and where is the awards gala?

We have joined forces with DC Design Week and our gala will take place in the Fall. Additional information, including the venue, tickets, and more, will be announced soon. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter for updates!

ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about entering AIGA50, or want to get involved as a sponsor or volunteer, please email aiga50@dc.aiga.org.