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WOMEN IN GAMES MERCHANDISE DESIGN COMPETITION – GET INVOLVED!

Our first official merchandise collection is coming – and we want your creative touch!

As the collection grows, we want to develop distinctive, desirable and limited-edition pieces through collaborations with artists, designers and our own community.

We believe some of those ideas already exist within our Ambassador network, so we’re inviting Women in Games Ambassadors to join the design process and help us create something amazing.

Submissions Deadline: 14 August 2026

THE CHALLENGE:
Design original merchandise concepts that capture the spirit of Women in Games.

Your design should feel like something people genuinely want to wear, display or use – not because it carries a logo, but because it expresses an idea, a belief or a sense of belonging.

Designs may be bold, subtle, playful, elegant or thought-provoking, but they should feel authentic to the Women in Games community.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We’re interested in designs that are:

  • Original and memorable
  • Timeless rather than trend-driven
  • Inclusive and globally relevant
  • Suitable for a diverse international audience
  • Easy to adapt across different products

WHERE YOUR DESIGN COULD BE USED
Winning designs may be adapted across a range of Women in Games merchandise and promotional materials. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • T-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Tote bags and backpacks
  • Water bottles, mugs and drinkware
  • Stickers, pins and patches
  • Notebooks, journals and stationery
  • Caps, hats and accessories
  • Lanyards and event merchandise
  • Conference and event giveaways
  • Digital wallpapers, social media graphics and promotional campaigns
  • Limited-edition collaborations and special collections

Your design does not need to work across every product. A design that is perfect for a sticker, tote bag or hoodie is just as valuable as one that can be adapted more broadly. We’re looking for creative concepts with personality that people will genuinely want to own, wear and share.

ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED ON:

  • Creativity
  • Originality
  • Visual impact
  • Connection to the Women in Games mission
  • Suitability for merchandise production
  • Appeal to a global audience

COMPETITION GUIDELINES:

  1. Original Creative Work

Your submission should represent your own original creative vision and artistic expression. We welcome a wide range of creative approaches, including illustration, graphic design, typography, photography and mixed media, provided the overall design is your own original work.

  1. Rights & Permissions

You must have the legal right to use every element included in your design. This may include your own artwork or photography, Women in Games brand assets, public domain works, openly licensed content used in accordance with its licence, or other assets where you hold the necessary rights or permission.

Your submission must not infringe the intellectual property or copyright of any third party.

  1. Creative Tools & AI

Women in Games embraces innovation and recognises that creative workflows continue to evolve.

You are welcome to use creative tools, including AI-assisted features, as part of your design process, provided the final submission is demonstrably your own original creative work and you retain creative authorship throughout.

If requested, shortlisted entrants should be prepared to explain their creative process and provide supporting evidence, such as sketches, working files or layered source files.

  1. Bold, Inclusive & Respectful

We encourage designs that are bold, thought-provoking and challenge the status quo. We want merchandise that sparks conversations, celebrates our community and reflects the Women in Games mission.

Entries must not contain hateful, discriminatory, defamatory or unlawful content, or promote harassment or violence.

  1. Number of Entries

You may submit up to five entries. Each design must be submitted separately using a new entry form.

  1. Keep Your Working Files

Please retain your original working files, including layered artwork where appropriate, until the competition has concluded. We may request these to verify originality or to prepare the design for production.

  1. Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of your design.

By entering the competition, you grant Women in Games a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display your submission for judging, promoting the competition and announcing the winners.

If your design is selected for commercial merchandise, Women in Games will work with you to agree the appropriate licensing or assignment arrangements before production.

  1. Production

Winning designs may require minor adjustments to colour, sizing, layout or print specifications to ensure they work effectively across different merchandise. Any changes will be made in collaboration with the designer wherever possible.

  1. Right to Refuse Entries

Women in Games reserves the right to reject or remove any submission that:

  • Does not comply with these rules.
  • Infringes the intellectual property rights of another person or organisation.
  • Contains inappropriate, abusive or unlawful content.
  • Is fraudulent or misleading.
  • Is incomplete or submitted after the closing date.
  1. Acceptance of the Rules

By submitting an entry, you confirm that you have read and accepted these competition rules.

What are you waiting for?! The entry form is here – we look forward to seeing your designs!

If you have any questions or queries please drop a line in our Discord or via email to ambassadors@womeningames.org