Submission Guidelines

UNBLOCKED seeks provocative poster work that challenges the everyday – from visual politics to personal manifesto, from editorial critique to insurgent imagery.

Everyone is invited. For this first edition, special focus is on poster responses that interrogate Ownership, asking what it means to take, give, claim, resist, and remake authorship and shared space.

This page explains how to prepare and submit work for the poster contest.

The first theme is Ownership.

Submission Process

1. Visit the poster contest page.
2. Read the contest overview.
3. Review the Ownership theme.
4. Create one or more original poster responses.
5. Prepare your poster file or files and any supporting assets.
6. Open the submit page.
7. Complete the participant information.
8. Complete the poster information.
9. Upload the required files.
10. Accept the consent and copyright confirmations.
11. Submit your entry.

Who Can Submit

• Designers
• Artists
• Illustrators
• Typographers
• Students
• Studios
• Independent creatives
• Collaborative groups

What You Need Before Submitting

• Your full name.
• Your email address.
• Your country and city.
• Your website or Instagram, if available.
• Your poster title.
• Your poster concept.
• Your final poster file or files.

Poster Information

Your submission should explain the idea behind the work.

Use the poster concept field to describe:

• The purpose of the poster.
• The message being communicated.
• The creative thinking process.
• The design decisions.
• How the work responds to Ownership.

Rules

• Submitted work must be original.
• You must have the right to submit the work.
• You must confirm copyright ownership or permission.
• Poster series should be combined into a single submission file if needed.
• Selected work may require additional formats later.
• Publication or exhibition versions may be requested later.

Judging Process

The competition review process takes place across four rounds.

During each round, submitted posters are reviewed and either progress to the next stage or conclude their journey. Each round represents a different level of selection and feedback.

Round 1 - Accepted

Status: Accepted

Your work has been viewed by the team, considered eligible, and successfully accepted into the poster contest.

• Submission successfully received.
• Entry becomes active within the competition system.

Round 2 - Potential Selection

Status: Under Review

Your work has been highlighted as a potential selection.

• The jury has actively discussed the work.
• The jury has reviewed its strengths.
• The jury has considered it for future selection.

Potential outcomes include exhibition or publication consideration.

Round 3 - Exceptional Merit

Status: Shortlisted

Your work was identified by the jury as having exceptional merit.

• The submission was highly discussed.
• The submission was strongly considered.
• The submission was very close to selection.

Round 4 - Selected

Status: Selected

Your work has been officially selected.

• Selection confirmation.
• Public announcement eligibility.
• Exhibition onboarding process.
• Publication preparation.

Progress Overview

Accepted -> Under Review -> Shortlisted -> Selected

After Submission

After submitting, you should receive a confirmation message or email.

Please do not close or exit the page while your submission is uploading.

FAQ

What is UNBLOCKED?

UNBLOCKED is a platform and creative initiative built around exploring big ideas through art, design, and community participation.

Who can participate in the poster contest?

The contest is open to creatives, designers, artists, students, and anyone interested in responding to the themes.

Do I need professional experience to submit?

No. Submissions are open to both emerging and established creators.

Can I submit multiple entries?

Yes. Participants can submit multiple works within the allowed submission limits.

What themes can I respond to?

The current poster contest theme is Ownership.

What file types can I submit?

Static posters can be submitted as JPG, PNG, or PDF files. Motion posters can be submitted as GIF or MP4 files.

Recommended maximums: static posters under 5MB and up to 2000px wide; motion posters under 20MB and up to 1500px wide.

What do I get if I win?

Winning entries receive recognition across our channels and programme materials, with selected works becoming part of the broader exhibition experience.

• 1st Place - £500
• 2nd Place - £300
• 3rd Place - £100

Prize recipients also receive a custom award and additional visibility through featured placements and promotional content. Selected works will culminate in a curated gallery exhibition in Switzerland at the end of 2026.

Submit Entry