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$500Grand prize
SUBMISSIONS OPEN NOW • LIVE FINAL DECEMBER 7

Design-A-ThonHard Work.Beats Talent.

Design for a real space. The winning design gets produced and installed.

A real challenge. Real feedback. Real opportunity. Build something that transforms a business. And your portfolio.

No portfolio required. Just your idea. Voters look for a clear idea that works in the real space.

Apply to compete →See the challenge
NEW YORK CITY
EMERGING
CREATIVES
This is not a class.

Make work that gets seen.

Vyynl brings emerging designers together to solve live design challenges for local businesses and community organizations. Finalists present their ideas, get direct feedback, and compete to have the winning concept produced and installed.

  • 01

    Emerging talent

    Real experience and portfolio-ready work.

  • 02

    Stronger businesses

    Better spaces that attract attention.

  • 03

    Better communities

    Design transforms neighborhoods.

  • 04

    Brighter futures

    Connections that create opportunity.

The process

Submit. Vote. Final.

  1. 1

    Submit

    Enter by Nov 20 at 11:59 PM ET. Solo, or a team of up to 4.

    No portfolio required. Just your idea. Voters look for a clear idea that works in the real space.

  2. 2

    Public vote

    Nov 21 to Dec 3. One vote per track. Vote page →

  3. 3

    Finalists

    The top-voted entry in each track is emailed Dec 4 and interviewed Dec 5 or 6.

  4. 4

    Live final

    Dec 7, 2 to 6 PM ET, at Vyynl HQ and streamed. The public gets one live vote.

$500

Grand prize.

  • Cash prize
  • Portfolio spotlight
  • Vyynl gear
  • Your winning design produced and installed by Vyynl in New York City, at a site you choose with us
  • Career connections
  • Public recognition

Participant brief + voting guide

Give a real space apersonality.

Create a compelling, presentation-ready environmental graphic concept that gives a real-world space personality, purpose, and a memorable visual identity.

4 tracks3 deliverablesPublic vote

Pick one track.

Track A

Storefront window

Storefront window transformation

Design window graphics for a neighborhood business that help people walking by understand what it offers and feel welcome to come inside. Balance personality, readability, and visibility through the glass.

Required deliverables

  1. 1One storefront mockup showing the graphics in context
  2. 2One flat layout of the window graphics
  3. 3A short explanation of the brand, message, and design choices

Voters will ask…

  • ?Can someone quickly tell what the business offers?
  • ?Is the text readable from a distance?
  • ?Does it account for transparency, sightlines, and the entrance?
Track B

Commercial interior wall

Commercial interior wall

Transform a wall in a café, office, fitness studio, or reception area. Express the business identity and make the space more memorable for customers and staff.

Required deliverables

  1. 1One room mockup showing the wall in context
  2. 2One flat wall graphic
  3. 3A short explanation of colors, imagery, and intended experience

Voters will ask…

  • ?Does the wall reinforce the brand and fit the space?
  • ?Is the scale right?
  • ?How should visitors or staff feel?
Track C

Residential wall

Residential wall design

Create a vinyl wall design that makes a living room, bedroom, or home workspace feel personal. Think about how someone would live with it every day.

Required deliverables

  1. 1One room mockup showing the design in context
  2. 2One flat mural OR repeating pattern, with a repeat preview if you use a pattern
  3. 3A short description of the intended resident and mood

Voters will ask…

  • ?Does the design suit the resident and the room?
  • ?Does it balance personality with living with it long-term?
  • ?If it repeats, does the pattern join convincingly?
Track D

Community or event wall

Community or event wall

Design a graphic wall for a community space or creative event that encourages inclusion and connection. It should be an engaging backdrop and a meaningful expression of the event or community.

Required deliverables

  1. 1One environmental mockup
  2. 2One flat graphic layout
  3. 3A short explanation of the message and the audience it serves

Voters will ask…

  • ?Does it welcome the intended community?
  • ?Is the message meaningful and accessible?
  • ?Does the backdrop work in person and in photos?

What you hand in

Three pieces. One story.

1

Contextual mockup

Your design in its real environment, at a scale people will believe.

2

Flat layout

The full artwork, matching the mockup. Add a repeat preview for patterns.

3

Written rationale

At least 200 characters, no maximum: audience, design goal, key visual decisions, and how it responds to the space.

  • ✓One PDF or slide deck, or separate files. PDF, PPTX, PNG, JPG, HEIC, or WEBP. 25 MB each.
  • ✓Label your track, project title, and designer or team name.
  • ✓Only use assets you're allowed to use. Credit major third-party or AI-assisted elements.
  • ✓Solo, or a team of up to 4.
  • ✓Entries close November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

100

Points.
Six criteria.

The public picks the finalists and the winner. Every voter gets the same 100-point guide for every track, so the best entries win on what the space actually needs, not only on how decorative or complex the design is.

25

Concept & originality

A distinctive, memorable idea with purposeful choices. Avoids generic solutions.

20

Brand / audience alignment

A clear grasp of the business, resident, event or community, with the right personality and message.

20

Environmental effectiveness

Works convincingly in its setting: scale, placement, readability, sightlines, comfort, or repeat.

15

Visual craft & cohesion

Strong composition, typography, color, hierarchy, imagery, and consistency.

10

Problem-solving & rationale

Clearly explains the problem, the intended outcome, and why your solution works.

10

Presentation & completeness

A clear, convincing mockup, an accurate flat layout, a concise rationale, and every required piece.

How the winner is picked

01Entries closeNov 20 · 11:59 PM ET

Submit on the site before the deadline. Until then you can replace files from your entry page.

02Public voteNov 21 – Dec 3

Anyone can vote, one vote per track. Use this guide to decide.

03FinalistsDec 4

The entry with the most votes in each track becomes a finalist.

04InterviewDec 5 or 6

Each finalist has a short call with the Vyynl team about their submission.

05Live finalDec 7 · 2–6 PM ET

Finalists present at Vyynl HQ and on stream. One live vote per person picks the winner. The winning design is produced and installed by Vyynl in New York City, at a site chosen together.

Organizers remove fake or automated votes and decide ties. Full details are in the rules.

From the Vyynl team

How to stand out.

  1. 01

    Start with a specific problem or opportunity, not just a visual style.

  2. 02

    Design for a real person who sees or uses the space.

  3. 03

    Make it clear at a glance and rewarding up close.

  4. 04

    Use the mockup to prove your idea works at a believable scale.

  5. 05

    Commit to one cohesive direction over several unfinished ones.

  6. 06

    Explain what you chose, why, and the experience it creates.

Ready to submit?

Check off each item before you upload. Your progress stays on this device.

Download the brief ↓

0/6Let’s go

Concept first. Always.

Show us your thinking.

We want your creativity and your ability to bring a physical space to life, not finished production files.

Open to high-school, college, university, and emerging creative talent in NYC and beyond.

Start your application →
Questions? hello@vyynl.org
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