2026 Decatur Book Festival Design Contest
The Decatur Book Festival invites artists and designers to create the official artwork for the 2026 festival.
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The winning design will appear on T-shirts, posters, tote bags, signage, Save the Date materials, merchandise, and digital promotions seen by readers and visitors from across the country.
This year, we’re celebrating the spark of imagination, the excitement of new beginnings, and the way stories bring people together. We’re looking for designs that capture movement, discovery, reading, language, community, or the energy of creativity. Your design does not have to include any specific imagery but should feel warm, inviting, literary, and connected to the spirit of the Decatur Book Festival.
What We’re Looking For
Your design should:
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Be clear and easily recognizable from a distance
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Remain legible at both large and small sizes
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Translate well across apparel, print, and digital platforms
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Feel inclusive and engaging for a multigenerational audience
Keep this in mind as the chosen design will be featured on posters, T-shirts, tote bags, flyers, signage, and web and social graphics.
Artwork Guidelines
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Square or near-square composition is recommended(for example, 12 in x 12 in)
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Slightly vertical layouts are accepted; avoid extremely tall designs
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Horizontal layouts are not allowed
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Artwork must crop well to both square and vertical formats
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Keep key elements centered and within safe margins
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Hand-drawn designs will not be accepted
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No gradients, transparencies, or photographic elements
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All designs must be original work created by the entrant and may not include copyrighted or trademarked elements without documented permission.
This ensures your design works for T-shirts, posters, and a variety of ad formats.
Color Rules and Brand Guidelines
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Design must not exceed nine (9) colors total; solid fills only
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Your design should feel connected to the DBF brand color palette but you are welcome to include other colors to bring your concept to life.
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The overall palette should remain cohesive to the DBF brand and work well on both light and dark backgrounds
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If using white or negative space in print production, please count it as one of the nine allowed colors
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If selected, your design may undergo minor color adjustments
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Official DBF Brand Colors:
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Autumn Orange – PMS 1665 C, HEX #DE4A26
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Georgia Pine – PMS 343 C, HEX #015542
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Azure – PMS 660 C, HEX #357CBF
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Mango – PMS 2013 C, HEX #F8991D
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Sunshine – PMS 109 C, HEX #FED109
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Peachy Salmon – PMS 169 C, HEX #F9B3AB
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Vellum – PMS 7506 C at 35%, HEX #F8EFE1
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Black Ink – PMS Black C, HEX #251E15
Technical Requirements
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Submit PNG or JPG at 300 dpi minimum, square or near-square
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If chosen, artist will be asked to provide vector files (.AI, .EPS, or .SVG) with outlined fonts and separated color layers
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Avoid fine textures, tiny details, and raster-only artwork
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Must be suitable for screen printing and embroidery
Rights and Usage
By submitting your design, you grant the Decatur Book Festival the right to use your artwork for festival materials, merchandise, promotions, and other festival-related purposes.
Prize
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$500 cash award
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Official 2026 festival merchandise feature
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Artist credit on DBF website and social media
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Recognition during the 2026 festival
Timeline
Contest opens: March 19, 2026
Submission deadline: May 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
Final Notes
We’re looking for artwork that feels contemporary and connected to reading, storytelling, and community.Consider how your design will appear on T-shirts, posters, and other formats. Clear shapes, strong composition, and legible graphics will ensure it works beautifully in every application.
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The winner will be notified by email.
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We can’t wait to see where your story begins!
How to Submit
Upload your design here.
