Communication Arts 2027 Typography Competition
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The Communication Arts 2027 Typography Competition celebrates creative and impactful uses of typography in design, advertising and visual communication. The competition covers a broad range of typographic work, including typeface design, calligraphy, hand lettering, experimental projects and student work.
Details
Field: Graphic Design
Type: Competition
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Location: Worldwide
Entry Fee: From $40
Student Fee: From $20
Prize: Publication
Eligibility: International
Entries are accepted from around the world. Submitted work must have been published or produced between September 2025 and September 2026. When a project includes text in a language other than English, entrants must provide an English translation for the jury.
One important rule for this year’s competition is that AI text-to-image generated work is not accepted.
Selected work will be featured in the Communication Arts Typography Annual, published in both print and digital editions, and on the Communication Arts website.
Key Dates
September 4, 2026 — Initial deadline
September 5–18, 2026 — Late entry period (+$10 per entry)
September 18, 2026 — Final deadline
Within two months after final deadline — Selected entrants notified
If you’re planning to enter, September 18 is the date to keep in mind. Entries submitted after September 4 are subject to an additional $10 late fee per entry.
Who Can Enter?
The competition is open internationally and is suitable for both established professionals and emerging creatives working with typography.
The competition is particularly relevant to:
- Graphic and type designers
- Lettering artists
- Design studios and agencies
- Students
- Creatives with eligible typography-focused work
Students should note that their submissions must have been created as part of a school assignment. Personal projects that were not produced as coursework cannot be entered in the Student Work category.
What Can You Enter?
The competition covers a wide range of typography-focused projects, from traditional print design to digital, environmental and experimental work.
Advertising
Typography used as a primary visual element in print advertising, outdoor advertising, advertising posters and direct mail.
Brochures
Annual reports, brochures, catalogs and other corporate or informational literature featuring typography as an important part of the design.
Posters
Posters created for concerts, performances, exhibitions, institutions, theaters, galleries and similar cultural or commercial purposes.
Ephemera
Invitations, announcements, greeting cards and other short-form printed materials.
Packaging
Typographic work created for packaging and related products, including labels, shopping bags, records, CDs, DVDs and software packaging.
Books
Book covers and complete books in which typography plays a significant role in the visual design.
Periodicals
Magazine, newspaper and newsletter covers, pages, spreads and complete issues.
Digital Media
Websites, blogs, mobile applications and other digital projects where typography is a primary visual element.
Environmental
Signage, environmental graphics, museum graphics, trade show displays and other typographic work created for physical spaces.
Identity
Logos, trademarks, wordmarks and typographic identities.
Motion
Movie and television titles, commercials, web videos, animations, music videos and other motion-based typographic work.
Typeface Design
Commercially available typefaces and type families.
Calligraphy / Hand Lettering
Hand-drawn lettering and type created for commercial purposes.
Miscellaneous
Typographic apparel, merchandise and other products created for sale.
Unpublished
Experimental or personal typographic work that has not been published.
Student Work
Typography-focused work created as part of a school assignment.
Entry Fees
Entry fees vary depending on the category and submission format. Many categories start at $40 for a single entry, while student entries start at $20.
| Category | Starting Fee |
|---|---|
| Advertising | $40 |
| Brochures | $40 |
| Posters | $40 |
| Ephemera | $40 |
| Packaging | $40 |
| Books | $40 |
| Periodicals | $40 |
| Digital Media | $40 |
| Environmental | $40 |
| Identity | $40 |
| Motion | $90 |
| Typeface Design | $40 |
| Calligraphy / Hand Lettering | $40 |
| Miscellaneous | $40 |
| Unpublished | $40 |
| Student Work | $20 |
The final fee can be higher depending on the category, submission format and number of pieces. For example, complete books and periodicals have higher fees than single-cover entries, while PDF submissions may cost more than JPG submissions in certain categories. Typeface design also has separate pricing for individual typefaces and type families.
A $10 late fee is added to each entry submitted after September 4, 2026.
Entry fees are nonrefundable.
What Do Selected Entrants Receive?
The competition does not offer a cash prize. Instead, selected entrants receive recognition through awards, publication and industry exposure.
Selected entrants receive:
- A personalized Award of Excellence made from solid aluminum
- Award certificates for firms, individuals and clients
- Publication in the Communication Arts Typography Annual
- Exposure through Communication Arts’ print and digital editions
- Publication on the Communication Arts website
Selected entrants receive recognition through the Award of Excellence, publication in the Communication Arts Typography Annual, and publication on the Communication Arts website and digital editions.
Submission Requirements
Applicants should have their project information and submission files ready before entering.
You will generally need:
- Contact information
- Project title
- Creative credits
- Digital files of the work
Entries must be submitted through Communication Arts’ online competition system. Submissions cannot be sent by email.
File specifications
Digital images
- JPG or JPEG
- RGB color mode
- Maximum 2 MB
Video
- MOV, MP4, MPG or MPEG
- Maximum 500 MB
- Maximum 50 MB
For typeface design, entries should demonstrate the complete character set along with a sample setting. Type families should show a complete character set and a sample setting for each variant.
Entry fees are nonrefundable, so make sure your work meets the category and submission requirements before completing your entry.
Important Rules
There are several rules worth checking before submitting your work.
AI-generated work: Communication Arts does not accept AI text-to-image generated submissions for this competition.
Multiple categories: A project can be entered in multiple categories if it meets the requirements of each category.
Series: Series entries must consist of work from the same project and will be judged together.
Student work: Student entries must have been created as school assignments. Work submitted in the Student Work category cannot also be entered in another category.
Originality: Student work must be original, and entrants are responsible for obtaining the necessary rights to use any copyrighted material included in their submissions.
When Will Entrants Be Notified?
Communication Arts does not provide a specific announcement date.
Selected entrants are expected to be notified within two months after the September 18 final deadline. The exact timing may vary depending on the number of submissions and the judging process.
Only entrants whose work has been selected will be notified.
Things to Consider
Best for: Graphic designers, type designers, lettering artists, studios, agencies and students with typography-focused projects.
The Communication Arts Typography Competition is relevant for designers looking for industry recognition and portfolio exposure rather than a monetary prize. Its international scope and broad selection of categories provide opportunities to submit different types of typography work.
The inclusion of Unpublished and Student Work categories may be relevant to emerging designers who do not yet have an extensive professional portfolio.
The main consideration is the entry cost. Professional submissions can become relatively expensive, especially when entering multiple categories, series or formats with additional fees. Student entries start at $20 for a single image.
Before entering, consider whether the competition’s publication and recognition opportunities align with your goals, particularly if you are primarily looking for portfolio exposure rather than a cash prize.
Enter the Competition
Interested in submitting your work?
Enter the Communication Arts 2027 Typography Competition
For the complete rules, category descriptions, current fees and submission process, visit the official Communication Arts competition page:
View the official competition information
Last verified: September 11, 2026