Design Contest

Contest Logo

Contest entries are under review. Please check back Friday, May 9, for the winning design.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood.

Blood is needed for emergencies and for people who have cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell anemia and other illnesses.

Last year, some 4 million people gave blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross.

The Contest

Greetings from the National Youth Council. We represent one-third of American Red Cross volunteers. We bring our creativity and passion to the lifesaving work of the Red Cross.

This year, the National Youth Council is launching a contest to create a modern t-shirt design just for young blood donors. While supplies last, all presenting donors on a high school or college campus in the United States may receive this snazzy shirt as a thank you gift.

Participate. Design a tee that represents the significance of blood donation, the gift of life. Create something edgy that high school and college students will want to wear. Need some inspiration? Visit www.givelife.org to learn more about blood donors and recipients of blood products.

If your design is chosen, it may be screened on up to 600,000 shirts and distributed nationwide. Your design will be worn by young people all over the United States.

Help to spread the word!

Contest Poster
Contest Flyer

Selection

Contest submissions will be assessed on content, creativity and design quality. A panel of American Red Cross youth and young adult volunteers and blood donors will judge contest entries.

In order to have a complete submission, be sure to include all required forms listed in the “Checklist” below.

Incentives

  • Your design will be featured on up to 600,000 t-shirts distributed at Red Cross blood drives across the country.
  • You will have a major design to add to your portfolio.
  • You will receive $1,000 cash compensation.

Timeline

Friday, April 11, 2008

Submit your design and accompanying forms via e-mail to DesignContest@usa.redcross.org as a .jpeg or .gif file no later than Friday, April 11. See details under “Checklist” at http://redcrossyouth.org/design-contest/. You will receive confirmation of your entry.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Winners and non-winners will be notified.

August 2008 – June 2009

T-shirts will be distributed at high school and college blood drives across the country.

Design Tips

Strive for eye-catching and creative, but also wearable and practical. Something that will inspire others to donate blood.

Because of stringent graphic standards requirements, do not use the American Red Cross name or logo in your design. These will be added to the t-shirt sleeve.

Designs can fit anywhere on the t-shirt body (except seams), and creative use of the t-shirt space is encouraged.

Designs should be initially submitted as JPEGs or GIFs, along with name, email address, phone number and a short description of the concept. If selected as a finalist, you must re-submit the design in one of these formats: .eps, .psd, .ai, or .indd.

You may enter as many designs as you like.

Judging will be done anonymously and designs will be selected on the basis of content, creativity and design quality.

All finalists will receive a copy of the t-shirt.

Rules/Legal

The contest is open to all Americans. Teams may participate in the contest, provided a project leader is elected and is responsible for the design.

Participation is free of charge.

In submitting an entry, you acknowledge that the t-shirt design you have submitted is your own original work, has not been previously published, and does not contain any trademarks, logos, copyrighted material, or any other intellectual property belonging to any third party.

If your t-shirt design is selected for use by the American Red Cross, you acknowledge that you assign to the Red Cross the entire right, title, and interest in and to the copyright in your design. If your design is selected, you will receive $1,000.00 cash. You are solely responsible for the payment of any taxes. The American Red Cross may use your design in any manner, including but not limited to: reproducing the design, selling items bearing the design, changing or reworking the design by making color or size changes, making derivative works of the design, using the design on the American Red Cross website and on promotional material for the American Red Cross, and registering the design with the US Copyright Office in the name of the American Red Cross as the Claimant.

If your design is selected, you may not reproduce, sell, or submit the design to others for any other purpose. You do, however, retain the right to acknowledge the use of your winning t-shirt design by the Red Cross.

Personal data supplied for participation will be used solely for the purpose of the competition. Participants consent to the use of their names and likeness in association with this contest and American Red Cross communication.

Checklist

Before you submit your design, make sure you have

(1) Attached your design (that meets guidelines above)

(2) Attached the legal form with your personal information

(3) Attached the t-shirt concept page to demonstrate where the design would be placed on the front and back and what color you recommend for the t-shirt

(4) Considered becoming a Red Cross volunteer!

More Info/Contact Information

Questions? Contact Sandy Tesch, Chair, National Youth Council, at TeschS@usa.redcross.org.

More about the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, collects and distributes nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time, money and blood to perform its humanitarian mission.

38 Responses to “Design Contest”

  1. Design Contest Launches « American Red Cross Youth Says:

    [...] Design Contest [...]

  2. Red Cross Youth Design Contest : Design Milk Says:

    [...] more details about the contest here: http://redcrossyouth.org/design-contest Bookmark This: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover [...]

  3. » Blog Archive » Design Contest « American Red Cross Youth Says:

    [...] T-shirt Design Contest for American Red Cross Youth [...]

  4. tre Says:

    are canadians eligble for this contest?

  5. Ralph Chislett Says:

    Good question! We’re checking with our legal department right now - we’ll have an answer soon.

  6. redcrossyouth Says:

    Thanks for your interest, tre - this contest is going to be limited to American entries. If you’re interested in doing some graphic design for the Canadian Red Cross, email me at MorganMat@usa.redcross.org and I’ll put you in touch with one of their staffers.

  7. red cross youth t-shirt design contest » !marty finestone’s activitybook Says:

    [...] All details can be found here. [...]

  8. David Uslan Says:

    Does it need to be a design on a white shirt or can we change the color of the shirt to meet the needs of our design?

  9. redcrossyouth Says:

    Good question, David. You can definitely change the shirt color to match your design concept.

  10. Student Art + Design Work » American Red Cross Design Contest Says:

    [...] Details here [...]

  11. More Contests, More Prizes! | You the Designer - Graphic Design Blog Says:

    [...] National Youth Council division of the Red Cross is launching a contest to create a modern t-shirt design just for young blood donors nationwide. Many high school and [...]

  12. Custom T-Shirt Contests 2008 » Blog Archive » Red Cross T-Shirt Design Competition - Give Blood! Says:

    [...] For more information visit Red Cross. [...]

  13. Contests!! « David Zobel’s Class Website Says:

    [...] National Youth Council division of the Red Cross is launching a contest to create a modern t-shirt design just for young blood donors nationwide. Many high school and [...]

  14. Chelsey Says:

    How are we supposed to submit the legal form with signiatures via email?

  15. Yoshi Says:

    where can we find the eps logo for the American Red Cross?

  16. redcrossyouth Says:

    Chelsey: filling out your name in the indicated spot is considered to be a legally binding electronic signature.

    Yoshi: we mention in the design tips that we have to actually avoid using the Red Cross logo and name in the t-shirt design. We’ll add it later to the sleeve… the Red Cross is protective of its logotype and name, and has a huge manual of graphic standards that prevents us from doing anything fun or hip with either. =D

    More questions? Just post a comment or send an email.

  17. Yuris Says:

    Do you put your design on the t-shirt concept page and submit it, or do you make the design and send it seperately?

  18. Jamie Says:

    Are we allowed to reference movie figures or super heroes?

  19. redcrossyouth Says:

    Yuris: both! One to see the design, and one to get a sense of its placement / integration into the shirt. I’ll amend the Checklist to make that clear.

    Jamie: I’d recommend against it unless it is a generic reference. We’ll get into legal issues otherwise.

  20. Give Blood, Give Life, Give Design Says:

    [...] American Red Cross is holding a t-shirt designing contest. The winner will receive $1000, media attention, their [...]

  21. Steven Says:

    Can we do a design for the front AND back? or is it just one or the other?

  22. Sam Says:

    Is there an age restriction on participants?

  23. Cronus Says:

    Can the design wrap around the shirt? As in say a line that goes around the shirt horizontally?

  24. redcrossyouth Says:

    Steven: Yessir, you can do both.

    Sam: I’m not sure. Email me at MorganMat@usa.redcross.org and I’ll check with legal whether or not you are old enough.

    Cronus: That sounds cool. It’s not against the rules!

  25. baby Says:

    Great website!! Keep up the good work!!

  26. Kyle Says:

    Can we choose the color of shirt? How many colors can be used on the design? thanks!

  27. redcrossyouth Says:

    Kyle: the color of the shirt is entirely your call (indicate that information on your t-shirt concept page), and while there are no limits to the number of colors used within the design, all other things being equal we will favor a shirt with less colors.

  28. Val Says:

    What if we don’t have Microsoft Word and are unable to submit the legal form via email? I have Microsoft Works and all the basic programs, like WordPad and Notepad. Should I print out the form and send it in via snail mail?

  29. redcrossyouth Says:

    Val: In that case, we can make a special exception. Please email me at MorganMat@usa.redcross.org so I can give you instructions!

  30. Katherine Says:

    Just to double check - you can’t use “American Red Cross” in the design, but you can use “give life.”

    Correct?

  31. redcrossyouth Says:

    That’s correct, Katherine!

  32. Katie Says:

    I’m in the same position as Val- don’t have MS Word to send the legal form via e-mail.
    Also, do you have to have a design seperate, or is just your work on the t-shirt form fine?

  33. redcrossyouth Says:

    Sure, then email me for instructions. You need to send in a separate design from the t-shirt concept page (#1 and #3 above).

  34. Rachael Says:

    Can we only submit one design, or multiple?

    Is there any age limit at all? (Im 17 - must you be 18 or older etc?)

    I am unable to access the Legal page (it is loading a blank page). Is there another link to it?

  35. Rachael Says:

    Nevermind! I got the legal page to load…. :)

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