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Illustration Next Award

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Illustration Next Award

Next stands for work that is more than a style exercise. For concepts with conviction. For illustration with perspective. This is not a university project. It's a step into the industry.

Please submit entries exclusively via our application formhere
Why this award?

Too much good work disappears unseen after graduation. Yet visibility often matters more than talent alone.

This award puts your work where it will be seen: in front of art directors, agencies and potential clients.

The categories

Classic Illustration

Editorial, book, campaign, character

> Focus: Style, signature, visual clarity

Illustration & Animation

Motion pieces, loops, hybrid formats

> Focus: Movement

Hybrid AI Illustration

Creative use of AI in original, independent work

> Required: Process documentation

The prize

A good award gives you more than a trophy. It puts your work where it will be seen and built upon.

As a winner, you receive:

  • one year of a premium profile on illustratoren.de
  • one-to-one portfolio consultation with experienced curators
  • a feature on the homepage
  • targeted visibility with agencies and clients

Selected work will also be actively presented to potential clients.

The criteria

We judge not only the result, but also the idea behind it.

What matters is how clearly a piece is conceived, designed and executed - and the potential it shows in a professional context.

The jury pays particular attention to:

  • the strength of the idea and concept
  • a distinctive visual signature
  • relevance and market potential
  • quality of craft
  • the way the work is presented

In the Hybrid AI Illustration category, one further aspect applies: how deliberately and with how much control the tools are used.

This includes:

  • a transparent account of the process
  • the quality of the integration
  • creative control over the result

In the end, what counts is a clear point of view - and work that lasts beyond the moment.

The timeline

The award follows a clear process, from submission to final selection.

  1. Submissions open: 
  2. Submission deadline: 
  3. Jury phase begins: 
  4. Winners announced: 

All participants will be informed about the next steps.

FAQ

Who can enter?

The award is aimed at students and creatives at the start of their careers. Personal, self-initiated work is also welcome.

How many pieces can I submit?

You can submit multiple pieces (max. 3) at a resolution between 2000x2000 px and 3000x3000 px as PNG, JPG or PDF, with a maximum file size of 5MB per asset. Please send each submission to kontakt@illustratoren.de. Each piece is judged individually.

Does the work have to be new?

No. You can also submit existing projects from your portfolio, as long as they represent the way you work today.

Who owns the rights to the work?

All rights remain with you. By submitting, you simply allow us to show and promote your work in the context of the award.

What happens after the free year?

You will have a wrap-up conversation with the agents, where everything else is discussed. You have no ongoing obligations of any kind.

Can I use AI in my work?

Yes. What matters is how deliberately and independently you work with it. In the relevant category, a transparent account of your process is required.

Legal

Terms of entry

By submitting, you confirm that you are the author of the submitted work and hold all necessary rights. Work that violates applicable law or the rights of third parties will be excluded from the competition.

Usage rights

Copyright remains entirely with you. However, you grant us the non-exclusive right to present and promote the submitted work in connection with the award - in particular on our website, on social media and in accompanying publications.

Privacy

Data collected as part of your participation will be used exclusively to run the award. This includes, in particular, communication, organisation and the announcement of the winners.

Data will not be shared with third parties unless this is necessary to run the award and its promotional activities, or is required by law.

Consent

By taking part, you agree that your name, your submitted work and selected content may be shown publicly.

Application form
(*Required)