Graphic Design Challenge

The 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. Registration closes at 11:59 PM ET on March 28, 2025—and the competition will take place throughout the month of April. Students are welcome to compete as individuals or within teams. All students must be led by an adult sponsor (teacher, parent, guardian, counselor, etc.).


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 “getting active.” The submission deadline is April 30, 2025 @ 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The submitted graphic must be the student’s own original, unpublished work.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.

Judging Criteria

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

  • Focus: Graphic directly addresses the prompt “How Might We inspire our community to get active” as interpreted by the participant(s).

  • Creativity: Graphic is creative, imaginative, and inspiring. 

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

  • Originality: Graphic and its components are original and created or captured by the artist themselves and do not utilize artificial intelligence in the final submission.

The graphic must be the student's own original, unpublished work.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. 

Awards

Students/teams are eligible for the following awards: 

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

  • (1) Best Design by Theme: How Might We inspire our community to get active?

  • (1) Most Creative Design

  • (1) People’s Choice Award

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®.


All Elementary School Submissions

All Middle School Submissions

All High School Submissions

2024 Bright Spark Graphic Design Challenge Engagement

54+ Submissions

160+ Registrants

12 Countries Participating

54+ Submissions • 160+ Registrants • 12 Countries Participating •

The Process:

  • Start thinking about how to create a graphic design that corresponds with ”Inspiring your community to get active.” Brainstorm with your friends and family about what ”Inspiring your community to get active” means to them. Use those answers to inspire you.

  • Start with simple sketches on paper. Draw as many ideas as possible.

  • Narrow down to one top idea which you would like to use as inspiration for your final graphic.

  • Once you’ve landed on an idea, create your graphic. Your graphic must be original and 2D. Your graphic can be digitally assembled, or it can be hand-drawn or painted and then scanned—or a combination of both! We encourage students to implement methods such as original photography, drawing, painting, collage, and digital design.

  • 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.