The Excalibur is launching its first-ever magazine cover contest, and we want YOU to design the cover. Yeah, YOU! Here’s your chance to showcase your creativity and have your artwork featured on the cover of the inaugural issue of The Excalibur Magazine.
The winning design will be featured on the cover, and you’ll earn bragging rights across the entire MC community. Plus, the winner will have the opportunity to be interviewed and highlighted in a magazine-exclusive article about the contest. Honorable mentions will also be featured in the magazine’s “Standout Submissions” section.
Good luck, and let your imagination soar!
Contest Details
What is the theme of the contest?
- The contest theme is open-ended as long as it captures the spirit of student life, creativity, and diversity at Montgomery College.
Who can enter the Magazine Cover Contest?
- The contest is open to MC students from other campuses taking at least a class based on the TP/SS campus and any TP/SS students except Excalibur staff.
What is the design focus?
- We encourage you to explore any artistic concept that resonates with you as long as it reflects the spirit of student life, creativity, and diversity at Montgomery College.
- Your design can be abstract, symbolic, or literal—whatever you feel best represents your unique perspective. Whether you’re inspired by campus culture, student experiences, or broader themes, we welcome all types of artistic expression.
- All artistic mediums are accepted, including photography, digital art, traditional drawings, collages, paintings, and more. Your imagination is the limit!
What is the art format?
- Submissions must be original artwork—digital, hand-drawn, painted, photographed, created, or mixed media.
- Final cover design must be in portrait orientation.
- File formats accepted: PNG or PDF (minimum resolution: 300 dpi).
- Any submissions deemed explicit, obscene, offensive, or inappropriate (NSFW) will be disqualified.
- Submissions suspected of using AI-generated art will be disqualified.
Selection Process:
- Voting will be open to all MC students and staff with an MC email via an online form that will open on Oct. 24. Voting will remain open from Oct. 24 until mid-November (exact date TBD)
- The top 3 designs will be selected through voting, and honorable mentions will also be recognized.
Prizes and Recognition
1st Place Winner:
- The first-place artwork will be featured on the front cover of the inaugural issue of The Excalibur magazine.
- Recognition in the magazine’s credits.
- Opportunity to feature in a magazine-exclusive article about the contest.
- Prize TBD.
Top 3 Designs (two runners-up) and Honorable Mentions:
- 2nd and 3rd place: Prizes TBD.
- Top 3 designs and honorable mentions: Featured in a special “Standout Submissions” section in the magazine.
Honorable Mentions Judging Criteria:
- Designs will be judged on creativity, relevance to the magazine’s themes of student life and diversity, and overall artistic quality. The Excalibur editors and advisor and select faculty members will choose the honorable mentions.
How do contestants submit their work?
- Contestants must submit their original artwork by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visiting https://bit.ly/4ez4E1M!
- Contestants must confirm their work is original.
- Submissions are due by Oct. 23, 2024.
If you have any questions about the contest, please contact [email protected].
