Organizer Information
The opportunity is organized by the JAGDA (Japan Graphic Designers Association), a leading professional association for graphic design in Japan. JAGDA is internationally recognized for promoting visual communication design, supporting professional designers, and fostering emerging talent through exhibitions, awards, and educational initiatives. Its programs aim to strengthen global dialogue in design practice, with a particular focus on typography, poster design, and visual communication as tools for cultural exchange and social reflection.
Title & Description
JAGDA International Student Poster Award 2026
The JAGDA International Student Poster Award 2026 is a global Competition dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging talent in Graphic Design and poster-based visual communication. The award emphasizes the power of posters as a universal medium capable of expressing ideas, emotions, and social messages across cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Participants are invited to create a poster responding to the theme “Harmony”, with the requirement that the word “Harmony” must be included in the design. The interpretation is open, allowing students to explore conceptual, typographic, or visual approaches to the theme.
Eligible works must be produced in B1 poster format and created between August 2025 and July 2026. The award accepts academic projects, graduation works, and independently developed posters, as long as they meet technical and thematic requirements.
The program encourages international participation and aims to highlight how young designers engage with global issues through Visual Arts and communication design.
Categories
- Graphic Design
- Poster Design
- Typography
- Visual Communication
- Illustration
- Conceptual Design
- Contemporary Design Practice
Eligibility
- Open to international student designers
- Applicants must be students at the time of creation or submission
- Individual or school-based projects are accepted
- Works can be submitted from any country
- Emerging designers in the Visual Arts and Graphic Design fields are encouraged
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected participants and winners receive international recognition and exhibition opportunities:
- Grand Prix (1 work)
- Gold Awards (2 works)
- Silver Awards (5 works)
- Bronze Awards (10 works)
- Jury Awards (5 works)
- Committee Member Awards (6 works)
- Special Sponsorship Awards (approx. 20 works)
- Selected Works Exhibition (approx. 200 works)
Additional benefits include:
- Inclusion in an official exhibition in Japan
- Publication in printed exhibition catalog
- International exposure within design industry networks
- Recognition by leading global art directors and designers
- Opportunity for portfolio development and career advancement in Graphic Design
Application Fee
- ¥1,000 Japanese Yen per poster
- ¥2,000 for a 2-poster series
- ¥3,000 for a 3-poster series
Application Requirements
- Online registration via the application system
- Digital poster files (B1 format required)
- Project description/concept statement
- Completed application form
- Payment confirmation
- Printed posters (only for selected applicants in the later stage)
Important:
- Posters must include the word “Harmony”
- Stock imagery (free or paid) is strictly prohibited
- Works must be original and created within the eligible timeframe
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
- First & Second Screening: August 2026
- Selected Works Announcement: 27 August 2026
- Printed Submission (selected entrants): 10–11 September 2026
- Final Screening: Late September 2026
- Winners Announcement: 8 October 2026
- Exhibition Period: 25 November – 7 December 2026
- Catalog Publication: 25 November 2026
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Additional Details
This award is highly regarded within the international Graphic Design and poster design community. The jury consists of leading designers and art directors from Japan, France, and China, providing global professional evaluation standards.
The competition strongly emphasizes conceptual clarity, typographic discipline, and the communicative power of posters. It is particularly suitable for students seeking entry into professional design networks or building an international portfolio in the Visual Communication and editorial design fields.