2025 Student Earth Day Contest

Enter the Student Cover Design Competition

Design a cover for our April issue of Connected magazine to promote awareness on sustainability in alignment to this year’s Earth Day theme on the importance of recycled energy: “It’s Our Power, it’s Our Planet.”   

Background: The first Earth Day was held in 1970. Fifty-five years later, the Earth Day’s 2025 theme focuses on the benefits of recycled energy: Read more about the theme and why urgent use of renewable energy is critical for sustainability. 

Requirements

The competition is open to current college students studying graphic arts in the northern and central California region. 

Prizes

  • First Place:  $1,000 + The winner’s design will be featured on VMA’s Spring issue of Connect magazine cover and in VMA’s digital newsletter. These publications go to VMA’s member base of over 500 Northern California print and creative agency small business owners and is the largest industry publication in the area. 
  • Second Place – $500 + showcased in interior page of Connected and in VMA’s eNewsletter 
  • Third Place $250 + showcased in interior page of Connected and in VMA’s eNewsletter 

Timeline

    • Design is due March 1, 2025 
    • Winners announced and contacted in late-March 
    • Connected is printed and distributed in mid-April

Judging

Winner will be selected by a jury consisting of VMA’s Communications team

Design Direction

  • It should also speak to the visual media industry – printers, packaging, labels, design agencies and industry and our role in creating a sustainable planet. 

Design Specs

  • Download the template and design on your own layers below the masthead. 
  • Design for 300dpi, CMYK 
  • Final File: PDF with bleed and crop marks, outlined copy 

To Enter

Complete the form and upload the final PDF file online at https://forms.gle/upVkyMQ7umrELX5DA

Questions

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Click the link below to download the latest Connected issue.

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