Entries Open
March 9, 2026
Account Access
Graphic Design USA
The Inaugural Sports Design Awards
FOR A CREATIVE FIELD AI CAN’T REPLACE
Enter Now
About the Awards
// Legacy + Global Reach
For decades, GDUSA has recognized the strongest ideas in visual communication. The Sports Graphic Design Awards extends that legacy with a focused platform honoring standout creative work shaping how fans, teams, and communities experience sport.
- Open to both U.S. and international entries from agencies, in-house teams, studios, and independent creators.
- All levels of sports design are welcome: pro organizations, college athletics, esports, youth, and amateur competition.
- Winners are selected by respected industry leaders and peer creatives across branding, media, and sports marketing.
Key Dates
// 2026 Timeline
Submission window runs from March 9, 2026 through April 6, 2026.
Entries Close
April 6, 2026
Qualification Round
Mid-April 2026
Final Judging
Late April 2026
Winners Announced
May 2026
Award Categories
// Anwhere Sports get Visual
Team & Event Brand Identity
Identity systems, marks, and supporting brand assets that define teams, events, and sports properties.
Marketing & Promotional Design
Campaign visuals built to drive awareness, ticketing, engagement, and fan conversion across channels.
Digital & Broadcast Graphics
Motion packages, social graphics, scorebugs, and digital assets designed for screens and live coverage.
Digital Products, Platforms & Fan Experience
Apps, websites, fantasy and gaming interfaces, ticketing, streaming, sports betting, and digital fan experiences.
Apparel & Merchandise Graphics
Uniform graphics, apparel collections, and merch programs translating brand equity into wearable design.
Environmental & Experiential Graphics
Venue graphics, installations, fan-zone activations, and wayfinding systems that elevate in-person experience.
Judging + Criteria
// Blind 2-Round Review
Judging is conducted blind in two rounds: Qualification and Final. Entries are reviewed for strategic performance and creative impact.
Business Solution
How well does the design solve the stated objective for the intended audience, within constraints?
Creative Originality
How fresh, conceptually strong, and memorable is the idea and is innovation purposeful?
Visual Effectiveness
How clear, crafted, consistent, and context-appropriate is the visual execution?
Sagi Haviv
Partner & Designer, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv
Identity design leader known for iconic marks spanning global brands, major sports properties, and civic institutions.
View Full Bio
Sagi Haviv is a partner and designer at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the studio behind identity systems for brands and institutions including National Geographic, Chase, NBC, TNT Sports, the U.S. Open, the NYC Marathon, Warner Bros., and ATP. Since joining the firm in 2003 after graduating from Cooper Union, he has become a widely recognized authority on logo design through writing, teaching, speaking, and media contributions. He also coauthored two influential books on identity design.
Nick Matarese
Founder, The Barn Creative
Award-winning sports brand designer building long-life systems for teams, colleges, media partners, and major consumer brands.
View Full Bio
Nick Matarese founded The Barn Creative in 2010 after early work on adidas brands, Brute Wrestling, athlete campaigns, and NCAA programs helped shape his view of how sports branding builds community. His studio has since earned more than 100 national awards across projects for Disney, adidas, NBC Sports, colleges, breweries, and professional teams in the NFL, NHL, and MLB. His work centers on creating what he calls franchise brands: identities built to last and to form emotional connections over time.
Nate Evans
Graphic Designer, Oklahoma City Thunder
Sports designer balancing strategy and precision across season launches, playoff campaigns, and high-visibility fan moments.
View Full Bio
Nate Evans (they/them) is a graphic designer for the Oklahoma City Thunder with experience across entertainment, technology, and sports. Their work has supported major franchise moments including multiple season launches, playoff campaigns, and an NBA Finals run, always with a focus on strong systems, sharp execution, and audience impact. From post-season branding to large-scale fan engagement, Nate brings a clear understanding of how design performs under pressure and contributes to larger brand narratives.
Jaden Roberts-Thomas
Graphic Designer, San Diego Wave Futbol Club
Sports storyteller creating bold, fan-facing visuals with experience across professional soccer and college athletics.
View Full Bio
Jaden Roberts-Thomas is a graphic designer for San Diego Wave Futbol Club, where he creates visual content that strengthens brand identity and deepens fan connection across platforms. Before moving into professional soccer, he served as Assistant Director of Graphic Design at the University of Missouri and worked as a football recruiting creative intern at Wake Forest. A Southern Illinois University graduate, Jaden combines storytelling, strong visual strategy, and a collaborative working style to create effective sports design on and off the field.
Prizes & Recognition
// Winners Circle
5 Category Winners
One winner recognized in each core category.
Top 3 Overall Winners
Gold, Silver, and Bronze selected from finalists.
Official Winner Assets
Custom trophy, certificate, and GDUSA Winner badge.
- Featured in GDUSA print and digital platforms for broad professional visibility.
- Spotlighted in the American Design Gallery.
- Receive a custom award trophy and certificate for display and team recognition.
- Granted GDUSA Winner badge rights for portfolios, presentations, and social channels.
Entry Details
// Submission Window: Mar 9 to Apr 6
Each project may be entered into multiple categories. Every category submission is judged separately and requires its own entry fee.
Entries accepted from March 9 through April 6, 2026. Late entries are not guaranteed.
FAQs
// Quick Answers
Who can enter?
Entries are open to organizations and creators worldwide, including agencies, in-house teams, schools, and independent designers.
Can one project be submitted to multiple categories?
Yes. A project may be entered in multiple categories, and each category entry is judged independently.
When will winners be announced?
Winners are announced in May 2026 after final judging concludes.