Frye x Design 2025 Poster Competition
Frye x Design is an annual poster design series hosted by the Frye Art Museum.
This year, the Frye is accepting submissions from designers throughout Washington State for the chance to win up to $450 and have their work displayed in the Frye Art Museum Courtyard and sold as a special edition print in the Museum Store.
How does the open call work?
- Professional, student, and amateur designers 18 and older are invited to submit 3-5 work samples that are representative of their style (no new work is needed) by February 6.
- After the submission window has closed, three selected individuals will be provided with a $150 honorarium and a 1-year individual membership to the Frye, and will be invited to create an original poster design that responds to the prompt: what makes the Frye Art Museum special?
- The new poster can be in any style—typographic, illustrative, abstract, representative. It can be created digitally, drawn by hand, printed, collaged, Xeroxed, embroidered—all mediums are accepted*
- From the three submitted posters, one winning design will be chosen by jury. The winning designer will receive:
- An additional $300 prize
- Their design displayed in the Frye Courtyard and sold as a limited edition print in the Frye Store
*While you may create in any medium, you must submit a digital file. For example, if you created a hand-painted poster, you are responsible for photographing or scanning the original work.
Email fryexdesign@fryemuseum.org by February 6, 2025 with three to five examples of relevant design work (please not more than 5) attached.
- Accepted file types: PDF, JPEG, or PNG
- Please include your name in the file name(s) (e.g. FranzStuck_Portfolio.pdf)
- Include your name and place of residence (WA state only)
Submissions are based on your past portfolio of work—the goal is for us to understand your style, not for you to create new work to participate in the open call.
Submissions must be your own, original work. AI-generated artwork is not permitted.
Frye x Design is open to designers 18 and older residing in Washington State.
We encourage submissions from student and early-career designers! The works included in your submission may be from professional, personal, or student projects.
Current Frye Art Museum employees or their immediate family members are prohibited from submission.
The prompt is open ended ~by design~! You are not required to include any specific imagery, or adopt a particular style. The approach is entirely up to you, we are looking for your unique creative voice. Your design should not conflict with the Frye’s mission and values.
The Courtyard poster dimensions are 37" x 65"—if you are selected to create a new design, you will be provided with official specs and any production requirements.
For inspiration, you might consider recognizable imagery from the Frye such as works from our founding collection, the building’s architecture, or the museum’s history. You can also learn more about last year’s poster—the inaugural design for the series created by designer Jayme Yen.
The museum retains the right to adapt and reproduce your design for promotional, non-commercial use only (we will not sell your design beyond the initial limited edition print run without your express permission).
Any/all reproductions of your original design will include a credit line that identifies you as the creator.
You retain the right to adapt and reproduce your design for your own promotional, non-commercial use (e.g. for use in a personal art/design portfolio). You may not sell digital or physical versions of the design without the express written consent from the Frye Art Museum.
- January 7: Open call for submissions begins
- February 6: Example work submissions are due
- February 14: The Frye notifies three selected finalists, who will each receive a $150 honorarium and a 1-year individual membership to the Frye upon agreeing to produce a new poster design
- March 15: Submissions from finalists are due (the final production file from the chosen winner can be submitted at a later date)
- June: The winner is announced publicly on the Frye Art Museum's website and social media and their design is installed in the Frye Art Museum Courtyard.
The 2024 Frye x Design poster designed by Jayme Yen in the Frye Art Museum Courtyard. Photo: Runyon Colie