Organizer Information
Stereohype is a graphic art and fashion boutique founded in 2004 as a sub-brand of FL@33, a multi-disciplinary visual communication studio founded in 2001 by Agathe Jacquillat from Paris and Tomi Vollauschek from Frankfurt. FL@33 is based in London, with founding directors Agathe Jacquillat and Tomi Vollauschek both holding MAs from the Royal College of Art. Stereohype has operated as FL@33's experimental playground and international platform, with its badge collection growing from 1,000 designs by over 300 contributors in 2014 to, per the brief, 1,777 designs today. The Button Badge Design Competition is Stereohype's longest-running open call, now in its 19th edition, and has previously drawn entries reviewed by a rotating panel of past winners, journalists, and designers.
Title & Description
19th Stereohype Button Badge Design Competition (2026) #STBBDC #STBBDC2026
Stereohype's annual Button Badge Design Competition invites designers, artists, photographers, illustrators, and students to submit original artwork for one-inch (25mm) button badges. Entrants may compete in two categories — "Single Badge" and "Sets of 4" (sets are automatically also considered within the Single Badge category) — and may submit up to four different badge designs in total across both categories. Full instructions, the brief, judging panel, prizes, file specifications, and template links are provided in a separate downloadable PDF; the webpage itself is described as an overview only.
Categories
- Graphic
- Illustration
- Design
- Typography
- Photography
Eligibility
- Open to designers, artists, photographers, illustrators, and students in these areas, including runners-up from previous competitions
- Participants must be 18 years or older by the submission deadline
- All submissions must be sent in English, with the entrant's full name
- Not eligible: contributors to Stereohype's B.I.O. (By Invitation Only), MICA, AFOMFS, 10x10 Series, Emoji Series, or Squirrel Series, and former competition winners — these individuals are instead invited to join the judging panel
- Artwork must be original and created by the entrant; rip-offs, traced elements, stock footage, clip-art, or similar ready-made material are not accepted
- Entries created with generative AI image-making tools are not accepted; non-generative tools that assist with workflow, organisation, or non-creative tasks are permitted, but the badge artwork itself must be created by the entrant without generative AI
Program Benefits & Awards
- 1st Prize: personal mini profile/bio with website URL on stereohype.com, including descriptive text about the winner's artwork; 10 badges (single-entry winners) or 20 badges (Sets-of-4 winners); 2 Button Badge Motif Prints of choice; 1 signed Trans-form magazine by FL@33; 1 signed Postcard book by FL@33; 1 Button Badge Gift Box of choice (3–7 badges); 1 anniversary book Stereohype 2004–2014; 1 Design & Designer book of choice (subject to availability); 1 signed Design & Designer 033 – FL@33 book; VIP contributor account with permanent 10% Stereohype discount; VIP option to buy wholesale; 25% off all orders placed before 31 December 2026
- 2nd Prize: personal mini profile/bio on stereohype.com; 10 or 20 badges (per category, as above); 1 Button Badge Motif Print of choice; 1 anniversary book Stereohype 2004–2014; 1 Design & Designer book of choice (subject to availability); 1 Button Badge Gift Box of choice (3–7 badges); VIP contributor account with 10% discount; VIP wholesale option; 20% off all orders placed before 31 December 2026
- 3rd Prize: personal mini profile/bio on stereohype.com; 10 or 20 badges (per category, as above); 1 Button Badge Motif Print of choice; 1 anniversary book Stereohype 2004–2014; VIP contributor account with 10% discount; VIP wholesale option; 20% off all orders placed before 31 December 2026
- 4th Prize / 5th Prize: personal mini profile/bio on stereohype.com; 10 or 20 badges (per category, as above); 1 anniversary book Stereohype 2004–2014; 1 Button Badge Gift Box of choice (3–7 badges); VIP contributor account with 10% discount; VIP wholesale option; 20% off all orders placed before 31 December 2026
- Special Stereohype Prize: personal mini profile/bio on stereohype.com; 10 or 20 badges (per category, as above); 1 anniversary book Stereohype 2004–2014; VIP contributor account with 10% discount; VIP wholesale option; 20% off all orders placed before 31 December 2026
- Selected badge motifs from any contributor's work may later be invited into Stereohype's Button Badge Motif Print series (circular 7" Fine Art Giclée prints); this is separate from competition results, requires the creator's prior permission, and pays royalties on each sold print
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Send your application by email to: submit2026@stereohype.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 9 September 2026
Location
United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Submitting more than four designs across all categories will result in disqualification
- Judging panel: a group of 15–25 former competition winners, journalists, writers, illustrators, artists, and graphic designers from around the world, many of whom are past contributors to Stereohype's invitation-only series (AFOMFS, MICA, 10x10, Emoji Series, Squirrel Series, B.I.O.); the confirmed 2026 judges list was noted as available on the Stereohype website but not included in this source text
- Content restrictions: no religiously offensive, racist, sexist, or sexually explicit visuals, and no imagery downplaying the danger of weapons; entrants are asked to review the existing 1,777-badge collection to avoid repeating existing themes (e.g. nipple designs, "button buttons," popsicles with faces, back-of-badge artworks)
- Winners grant Stereohype a non-exclusive licence to reproduce winning artwork on badges and in Stereohype badge-related promotional materials (postcards, catalogues, etc.); a shortlist will be featured on stereohype.com, crediting artists and designers
- Winning designs may be given away as a free surprise badge with purchased Stereohype products, sold separately via stereohype.com and stockists, or reprinted for promotional purposes; designers will be credited wherever possible
- Separately from the competition, selected badge motifs may later be released as part of Stereohype's Button Badge Motif Print series (circular Fine Art Giclée Prints); this is not automatic, is independent of competition results, and involves separate personal contact and royalty payment to the contributor if selected