Poster Design Competition

The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition Online Information Form

Winners Announced in The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition 2009

For Ciara Borchard of Helendale, Calif., creating art is more than just a hobby—it’s her life’s passion, which is why she entered the 2009 The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition. Eighteen-year-old Ciara created the winning poster design integrating the theme "Life is Better with¬ Art in It," adding her own twist with the phrase “…Open Your Eyes.” Her design features a black and white picture of an eye that has a color wheel-inspired iris interspersed with artistic tools, and a camera lens as a pupil.

In partnership with the not-for-profit organization Americans for the Arts, The Art Institutes annual Poster Design Competition is an opportunity for talented young artists at the high school level to earn a tuition scholarship to study graphic design. After earning a degree, students may launch a professional career in this field.

In addition to being awarded the grand prize of a $25,000 tuition scholarship to study at The Art Institute of California—San Diego, Ciara will attend a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. with representatives from The Art Institutes, Americans for the Arts and invited members of Congress, honoring her work as well as the 41 other local winners in the competition.

The competition, which began in February, took place in two stages — locally and nationally. Students submitted their entries to a participating Art Institutes school, where local competitions were held by March 2009 and a local winner from each participating Art Institutes school was selected. These first place local winners' entries were placed into consideration for national judging.

A panel of graphic design professionals visited this Web site, and scored the 42 entries on a 100 point-value system. Approximately $100,000 in tuition scholarships to The Art Institutes schools was awarded to the top 12 students in the competition.

The designs of the top twelve winners work in the national competition will be featured in a calendar, to be distributed to high schools across North America. A winners listing can be viewed below.