Local Artists: T-Shirt Design Contest Guidelines
Have you noticed the really cool farmers market T-shirts that staff and shoppers wear every year? Well, we have exciting news! Common Greens is reaching out to all “creatives” around the community to participate in our first annual T-shirt Design Contest. This year we want YOU to have the chance to design that really cool shirt! All season long we celebrate local producers at our market. What better way to reflect this celebration than by combining local food with local art?
The winning design will be printed on our T-shirts and sold throughout the season to raise money for our non-profit organization. Your design will help us in aiding the ongoing work of supporting local farms, food and community! The winning artist will also receive a reward of $500. Second place is $250 and third is $100. All three of the finalist’s designs will be announced publicly and featured on our social media pages.
Eligibility/Entry
There is no entry fee to submit a design. All entrants must reside in Ohio. Only one (1) design per person is allowed. If you are under the age of 18, your design must be submitted by a parent or guardian on your behalf.
All entries should be emailed to liv@commongreensohio.org
Rules and Guidelines
- This contest is open to all Ohio residing artists.
- All designs must be original creations of the contestant and incorporate all the required design components outlined below. Submissions must not have been previously published and must not contain profanity, trademarks, other organization's logos, or any copyrighted works of any other person or business.
- Design(s) must be submitted in JPEG or PNG form by 11:59 pm (ET) on March 31st, 2025. Winners will be contacted and announced publicly by April 4th.
- The winning designer agrees to sign a waiver to allow Common Greens to use their design, free of charge after the $500 reward is given, for all printing and promotional purposes.
- The contest winner must agree to submit a high-resolution art file within 7 days of notification and agree to work with Common Greens printer if slight changes/modifications are necessary for production. If not, an alternate winner may be chosen in order to meet Common Greens production deadlines.
- By submitting an entry, you agree to all contest rules. If you have any questions, please email liv@commongreensohio.org
Required Design Components
The winning design will be placed on the front of the official Common Greens Farmers Market T-shirt. (Please note: all T-shirts will be one color and/or tone on tone not subject to change.)
- Theme: Design must include “Common Greens” and “Farmers Markets”. Must be related to farms, food and community.
- Colors: The winning design will be printed on a solid color t-shirt. Please submit your design in either black, white or both.
- Design Software: Designs must be digital.
*Your design must be entirely original- no clip art, copyrighted, or AI generated material allowed. Keep it simple: one color designs only, and make sure it’s print-ready.
How Winner is Selected
- Entries will be evaluated by an internal panel of judges along with celebrity artist judges Paul Giovis and Mandi Caskey and will be reviewed for:
- Concept and originality of design
- Visibility from a reasonable distance
- Adherence to design and submission rules and guidelines
- Adherence to Common Greens branding guidelines, including logo usage, colors, and typefaces
- Successfully capturing the spirit of the Common Greens Farmers Markets and the overall mission of Common Greens
- Totality of design and production readiness
- Upon final review, the top three designs will be selected and awarded in the following way:
- The top three designs will be announced across all Common Greens online platforms
- The winner will receive $500 and their design will be featured on this year’s official market t-shirt
- Second place will receive $250
- Third place will receive $150
Fine Print
Publicity and Agreement: Contest entry constitutes an agreement by the submitting designers to grant free license of all copyrights of the submitted works to Common Greens in perpetuity, for publicity and promotional purposes. The top 3 finalists will be subject to approval by Common Greens staff as well as Artists Mandi Caskey and Paul Giovis.
Media Release: By submitting artwork, you agree that if your design wins, Common Greens retains first printing rights and a free license, in perpetuity, to utilize the design on t-shirts and other promotional items, and marketing, fundraising, and public relations materials. You are guaranteeing that your design does not contain any copyrighted material, including images/copy found on the internet, unless clearly marked as published under a Creative Commons (cc) license. Contest entrants who are not selected as the winning designer(s) retain all rights to their artwork.
Celebrity Artist Judges:
Mandi Caskey
Mandi Caskey, also known as Miss Birdy, is a muralist based in Columbus, OH. With a vibrant style that blends whimsical elements and bold colors, her artwork brings life to urban spaces and community projects. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and festivals from around the world. In addition to her murals, she actively engages in workshops and educational programs, sharing her passion for art with aspiring artists. Through her creativity and commitment, Miss Birdy transforms ordinary walls into extraordinary narratives. Caskey’s largest mural to date is 400ft, tallest mural to date is 90 ft high, which was scaled completely on scaffolding
Paul Giovis
“I’m an artist currently located in Columbus, Ohio. My art comes in the form of illustration, large scale murals, and tattoos. I work towards creating an environment with my art. Building a feeling through careful color choices, bold hard lines, pattern and texture. It is my goal to carry my style throughout all my work in a cohesive manner, whether it be on walls or skin. Skateboarding, all things music, and graphic illustration have had a huge influence on my work and definitely play into my overall style and execution of my artwork.”