BE ORIGINAL,
OR BE FORGOTTEN

Call for Entries

The Real Show is a student design competition giving college students the opportunity to solve real-life communication design problems. Real competition, real projects, and real deadlines.

We are pleased to present The Real Show 26, a nationally recognized juried student design competition celebrating originality and emerging creative voices. This year’s competition includes a diverse range of project categories that can be thoughtfully integrated into course curricula, supporting project-based learning, professional practice, and portfolio development—while offering students valuable professional exposure and the opportunity to gain national recognition for
their work.

We invite students to enter the 2026 competition. We want to see your solutions to actual problems that designers were asked to solve in their professional practice. A distinguished jury of designers and educators will judge the entries.

To enter, students are to choose one of the problems and create their solution within the limitations described. Students may collaborate with another student and enter as many projects as they wish.

Entries due May 1, 2026

FREE TO ENTER!

Eligibility
All undergraduate students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university are eligible to participate.

Due date
Submissions will be accepted starting in March 2026. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026.

Judging
The judges will be looking at concept, design, and execution. After the judging is complete, professors will be notified as to who the winners are.

Winners
All winners included in the show will receive an Award of Excellence. There will also be Gold and Silver Awards.

Exhibition
Exhibition details are to come.

History

An Art Director’s Club of Metropolitan Washington tradition since 1975, is now at George Mason University’s School of Art + Design. Entries are judged by a distinguished jury of designers and educators.