AUT T-Shirt Design competition 2026

AUT Student T-Shirt Design Competition

Want to see your design on a T-Shirt? Then enter the AUT Shop’s T-Shirt Design Competition. Open to any student enrolled at AUT, the winning design will be printed on T-Shirts and sold at the AUT Shop. Profits from the sale of these T-Shirts will go to the AUT Foundation Student Support Fund.

Competition Rules and Entry Conditions

1. Competition Overview

The AUT Student T-Shirt Design Competition provides AUT students with an opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity through the design of an official AUT T-shirt.

The winning design will be produced and sold through the AUT Shop as a limited-edition special item. Proceeds from the sale of the winning design will go to the AUT Foundation Student Support Fund. The winner will receive a $1,000 prize and the competition will run from 20^th July to 21^st August.

2. Eligibility

To enter, participants must:

• Be currently enrolled as a student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
• Be enrolled in an AUT programme at the time of entry and at the time the winner is announced
• Submit an original design created solely by the entrant
• Accept these Competition Rules and Entry Conditions

Students from all faculties, disciplines, and levels of study are encouraged to participate.

Members of the judging panel and individuals directly involved in administering the competition are not eligible to enter.

3. Design Brief

Designs should:

• Be inspired by the student experience at AUT
• Reflect AUT's identity, diversity, innovation, and sense of community
• Be suitable for a broad AUT audience, including students, staff, alumni, and supporters
• Be appropriate for commercial production and retail sale

Designs must not:

• Include offensive, discriminatory, political, or inappropriate content
• Infringe any copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights
• Include third-party logos, brands, or copyrighted artwork without permission

4. Garment Specifications

Entrants should design for:

• AS Colour Staple Tee (or equivalent garment selected by AUT Shop).
• Front print, back print, or both.
• Maximum of three print colours recommended.
• Designs should be suitable for screen-print production.

The AUT Shop reserves the right to adjust garment colour, print placement, and production specifications if required.

5. Entry Requirements

Each submission must include:

• Design artwork in PDF, AI, EPS, or high-resolution PNG format
• A brief design statement (maximum 200 words) describing:
• The inspiration behind the design
• How the design reflects AUT
• Why the design would appeal to the AUT community

Each student may submit up to three entries.

Send final design work to autshop@aut.ac.nz with your student ID

6. Judging Criteria

Entries will be assessed against:

The judging panel's decision is final.

7. Prize

The winning entrant will receive:

• A $1,000 prize
• Recognition as the designer of the winning AUT T-shirt
• Professional exposure through AUT communications and promotional activities

8. Intellectual Property

By entering the competition:

• Entrants confirm that their design is original work, not AI
• Entrants retain ownership of their submitted designs unless selected as the winning entry
• The winning entrant grants AUT a perpetual, royalty-free licence to reproduce, market, sell, and promote the winning design
• AUT may make reasonable modifications to the winning design for manufacturing and branding purposes
• The winning designer will be acknowledged where practical

9. Student Support Fund Fundraising

The winning design will be produced and sold through the AUT Shop.

Profits generated from the sale of the winning product will contribute to the AUT Foundation Student Support Fund.

10. Competition Timeline

Competition Opens: July 20, 2026

Competition Closes: August 21, 2026

Judging Period: August 24 – September 4, 2026

Winner Announcement: September 14, 2026

Product Launch: September 28, 2026

11. General Conditions

• AUT reserves the right to verify eligibility and request supporting information
• Incomplete or late submissions may not be considered
• AUT reserves the right not to award a winner if no entry meets the required standard
• AUT reserves the right to amend competition dates, rules, or conditions if necessary
• Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these Competition Rules and Entry Conditions

For questions regarding the competition, please contact the AUT Shop, autshop@aut.ac.nz