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2027 CONFERENCE Logo Competition

Submission Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Apply Here

2027 Conference Logo Competition

Help us prepare for EAST Conference 2027 by creating
a logo to represent the new Conference theme:

CONNECTED

The submission deadline is 3:00 pm CST on Friday, April 24, 2026.

WHAT IS A LOGO?

A logo is a unique visual mark, such as a symbol, wordmark, or combination of both, that represents EAST and creates instant recognition. For the 2027 EAST Conference, logos should reflect the theme "CONNECTED." A strong logo is simple, memorable, and meaningful. The Conference logo will be featured prominently on the website, t-shirts, banners and more! Take some time to research and be inspired before creating your design.

TIPS FOR CREATING A LOGO:

  • Make sure your design communicates the EAST Conference theme: CONNECTED.
  • Use simple shapes and typefaces.
  • Use no more than one to two fonts. Free fonts can be downloaded at:
  • DO NOT use photographs.
  • Remember, this is a LOGO and NOT a poster! Click HERE for examples!
  • Choose a distinct color theme (one to three max). Make sure to provide a one-color option.
  • Use negative space effectively.

ARTWORK MUST BE ORIGINAL

  • It is okay to be inspired by the Internet and elsewhere, but do not use another designer's work.
  • NO CLIP ART or CANVA. Use the tools in your classroom, such as Adobe Illustrator or another vector drawing program.
  • NO AI. Do not ask Chat GPT, Claude, Canva AI or equivalent to make you a logo. It will be disqualified.

Save the Date

Logo lab virtual training

April 7, 2026 9:30 am - 11:30 am

In this 2-hour virtual class, you'll learn the essentials of great logo design, from brainstorming to digital creation. We'll dive into shape theory, typography, and Illustrator tools to help you create a powerful, scalable mark. Whether you're building a school, team, or project brand, this session is the perfect warm-up for the EAST logo competition, and a chance to leave your creative stamp on the world. Register under Student Training on the EAST website.

Logo Workshop Day

Wednesday, April 15th, or Thursday, April 16th

We are bringing back the Logo Workshop Day with EAST Designer, Jocelyn! This interactive session is your one-on-one opportunity to showcase your design, receive expert feedback, and ask questions to refine your creative vision. Jocelyn will provide guidance to help you think critically about your design choices and elevate your work. More information and a sign up genius will be provided later. Don't miss this chance to take your logo to the next level!

Submission instructions

To qualify, all details and project descriptions in the online application must be complete. This information will be used as a part of the judging criteria for this competition. The submission deadline is 3:00 pm CST on Friday, April 24, 2026.

REMEMBER: The submission form will automatically close at 3:00 pm CST on the deadline date. If you are in the middle of submitting a form at this time, your submission will NOT be received. Please remember that upload speeds can vary depending on file type, school bandwidth, etc. Deadline days have a high volume of submission traffic, which can also cause delays in uploading files and submitting applications. If you encounter an issue on the day of a deadline, EAST staff may only have limited availability to provide assistance. EAST staff will not grant a deadline extension. It is recommended that you DO NOT wait until the last day or the last minute to submit your application.

Step 1- Get ready

Before submitting your application, make sure you have all the required materials:

  • Design Files
  • Designer Photo

Design File Requirements

  • Required: Final Logo Design (.ai or .eps)
    • All logo submissions must be provided in a format that is fully editable in Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer.
    • Hand-drawn images, raster images, or designs created in non-vector formats like JPEG, PNG, or Canva are not acceptable.
    • Submissions must be original and not infringe on any copyrights.
    • No use of clip art or stock images.
    • No use of AI-generated images.
    • Designs should be one to three colors max
    • Send your ORIGINAL document with layers intact.
    • Do NOT merge layers.
  • Required: Final Logo Design as a .jpg or .png
  • Required: One Color Design
    • If your design has multiple colors, provide an black and white version of your design (.ai or .eps).

Designer Photo Requirement

  • Photo of designer ONLY
    • All photos must be high-quality, well-lit professional-style images of the designing student from the shoulders up with a neutral/solid background.

Step 2- Complete the Online Application

Tell us more about your logo design and the inspiration behind it as well as your design process.

Note: You will upload the items from Step 1 in the online application including:

  • A picture of designer uploaded as a PNG or JPG
  • Full color logo as a PNG or JPG
  • Black and white logo as a PNG or JPG
  • Design source file (.ai or .eps) uploaded as a ZIP file

Not sure how to zip a file? Click here for Windows instructions or click here for Mac instructions.

Name your file using your first and last name (example: sallysmith.ai). If you submit more than one file, follow the same guidelines and add a number at the end. (example: sallysmith1.ai, sallysmith2.ai, etc.).

Step 3- Submit

After completing the online application, click the "Submit" button. Once you see the "Submission Received" page, you will not be able to make any changes. If you do not receive an email confirmation, assume there was an error and your submission was not completed. Please go back and complete the online application again. If you still do not receive an email, please contact events@EASTstaff.org.

You may be asked to revise your design for reproduction or other issues. Be sure to keep original work. All logo designs become the property rights of EAST upon submission

Tips from the designer

BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING A LOGO

  1. KEEP IT SIMPLE

    A simple logo is memorable, easy to recognize, and versatile across various media.

  2. CHOOSE FONTS WISELY

    Limit yourself to no more than two fonts. A good rule of thumb is to combine one fun, creative font with one that's easy to read.

  3. USE COLORS THOUGHTFULLY

    Colors should enhance your design and support your story. Start with two or three colors, and always ensure your logo looks great in black and white. If it doesn't, you may be relying too heavily on color.

  4. TAKE A BREAK, THEN REVIEW

    Once your logo is complete, step away from it or at least two days. When you return with fresh eyes, you'll be better able to make objective final adjustments.

  5. SEEK FEEDBACK

    Don't design in a bubble. Ask trusted peers for honest input. Oftentimes, fresh perspectives reveal issues you may have missed.