Participa!

5 Reasons to Enter Design Competitions While You're a Student

There's nothing duller than looking at a student portfolio with nothing in it other than "student work." So how do you change it up? Well, enter a bunch of design competitions while you're in school, and you'll have a more varied mix. But that's not all. Here are 5 reasons why you should be entering design competitions while you're still a student:

1.

Preparing your entry will force you to create a well-crafted, well-produced "piece"—with great photography and great copy. Which means it's portfolio-ready.

2.

Even if you don't win, many competitions—especially online ones—publish dozens of notable entries. So you'll probably get some press from it, which you can screengrab and put in your portfolio next to the entry spreads.

3.

It's not schoolwork. Many design competitions have themes that are ambitious, progressive, and challenging, so entering them will give you a great opportunity to spread your creative wings. Especially if you find that a lot of your classwork doesn't possess these characteristics, go get it across the street.

4.

The fact that you enter design competitions sends the message that you're engaged in the design world beyond school. Which you should be.

5.

You may just win. And then that point about printing out press clippings takes things to a whole new level. "I see that you've won or been published in 3 magazines and on 5 websites since your Junior year?" Endorsements from judges and editors may get your interviewer to think a little more seriously about you, which is the point, right?

vía hack 2 school