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Business Innovation by Design.
 
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Spring 2024 Bright Spark® Graphic Design Challenge

Challenge is currently underway • Final submissions are due 11:59 PM ET, April 30th, 2024

Calling all designers! We are excited to announce the Spring 2024 Bright Spark® Graphic Design Challenge hosted by Bridge Innovate®. For this challenge, we are asking the question: "How Might We… amplify the benefits of being 'One with Nature?'"

The Spring 2024 Bright Spark® Graphic Design Challenge is intended for students from rising 4th through 12th grades (ages 9-18). The program is virtual from start-to-finish and is completely free to participate in.

Spring 2024 Bright Spark® Graphic Design Challenge

The graphic design must be an original work and may be hand-drawn/scanned or digitally created. According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic design is defined as, “...the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” Check out these samples from our previous graphic design challenge around the “Power of We” by clicking here.

What does “One with Nature” mean? Over the last several years, we have become increasingly reliant on technology to fulfill our lives. According to recent research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children ages 8-18 are spending an average of 7½ hours per day behind screens. It can be difficult to escape technology—especially with the onset of COVID-19. How do we encourage people to balance technology use with the real world? The answer lies with nature. According to several studies cited by the American Psychological Association (APA): “Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.” Nature is all around us! You can visit a local wildlife reserve or national park, participate in outdoor activities such as hiking or swimming, or simply walk outside and breathe fresh air. Your graphic design should bring to life the benefits of nature and inspire others to engage in the outdoors.

You have the opportunity to be creative in thinking about how the idea of “One with Nature” can be depicted in the graphic design you create! As the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” suggests, the use of graphics can explain ideas better than a large number of words. Your graphics have the power to inspire, motivate, and change behavior.

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Timeline

Submission

Participants will submit their designs using a Google Form. Each design must include a short title and an under-40-word description of how their design promotes being “One with Nature.” The submission deadline is April 30, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ET.

The submitted graphic must be the student’s own original, unpublished work. By entering the competition, the student and adult sponsor agree that the submission is the student’s own work. Bridge Innovate® and its program Bright Spark® have free and unlimited use rights to use the work to promote and benefit future Bright Spark® programs and services.

 
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The Process

  • Step 1: Identify the Topic: Start thinking about how to create a graphic design that corresponds with the idea of being “One with Nature.” Brainstorm with your friends and family about what being “One with Nature” means to them. Use those answers to inspire you!

  • Step 2: Sketch your Ideas: Start with simple sketches on paper. Draw as many ideas as possible!  

  • Step 3: Identify your Favorite Idea: Narrow down to one top idea which you would like to use as inspiration for your final graphic.

  • Step 4: Create your Graphic: Once you’ve landed on an idea, create your graphic! Your graphic must be original and 2D. Your graphic can be digitally created, or it can be hand-drawn or painted and then scanned.  

  • Step 5: Submit your Graphic: Your design must be submitted as a PNG or JPEG file saved in the sRGB color profile. The image must fit inside of a 10” x 12” area with a minimum resolution of 150 DPI.

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Judging Criteria

The top finalists will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Focus: Graphic directly addresses being “One with Nature” as interpreted by the participant(s).

  • Creativity: Graphic is creative and inspiring; imaginative and original.

  • Execution: Graphic demonstrates an understanding of graphic design principles: color, layout, etc.

The graphic must be the student's own original, unpublished work. By entering the competition, student and adult sponsors agree that the submission is the student’s own work, and Bridge Innovate/Bright Spark has exclusive rights to use the graphic submission.

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Awards

Students/teams are eligible for the following awards: 

  • (3) Best Overall Design by Age Level: Elementary, Middle, High

  • (2) Best Design by Theme: “One with Nature”

  • (1) Most Creative Design  

Winning individuals/teams receive a virtual certificate, recognition on the Bridge Innovate® website and Bright Spark® social media, and a $100 gift card.

All educators receive a Design Thinking Leadership digital badge. Educators of winning individuals/teams are also eligible for the Innovation for Good® Award presented by Bridge Innovate®.

Invest in the next generation of innovators

Every year, our valuable sponsor feedback highlights the inspiration, innovation, and joy that is cultivated by these students as they showcase their creative capacity. Some sponsors even see these competitions as a talent development opportunity and have offered internships to select college and high school students.

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Ways to get Sponsor

  • Partner Sponsor

  • Contributing Sponsor

  • Award Sponsor

  • In Kind Sponsor

Benefits to you

  • Gain unfiltered student inspiration for new products and services

  • Build your brand for investing in youth

  • Meet social responsibility goals investing in the future creative generation

  • Engage in a new channel for recruiting talent and interns

  • Build design thinking within your team by coaching others

Benefits to participants

For Students

  • Build creative confidence through solving real-world challenges

  • Collaborate with diverse teams and professionals

  • Spark potential internship and career opportunities

For Schools

  • Build student and educator creative confidence

  • Build stronger citizenship skills by providing opportunities to create community and business solutions

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Sponsored By

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