Ages 5–8
Little Creators
What makes you, YOU? Design something that shows your world; your colors, your favorite things, your vibe. Make it so only you could have made it.
Young Creators
Contest
Everything you need to know to enter, compete, and win.
In partnership with CoolxDadcolorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026
colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026colorculture's 2nd annual creator contest · 2026
Who can enter
Open to every young creator across the State of Texas
One of One
Ages 9–12
Rising Talent
Design your difference. The thing that sets you apart; your obsession, your perspective, the part of you that doesn't fit anywhere else.
Ages 13–17
Next Gen
Everybody says they're built different. Prove it. Design a piece that is visual evidence of what makes you one of one. No explanations. Just the work.
Eligibility requirements
- Must be ages 5–17 at time of submission
- Must be based in Texas (any city, any region)
- One submission per creator
- Designs must be 100% original; no copyrighted characters or offensive imagery
- Parent or guardian must consent and co-sign for ages 5–15
- Winners must attend the Awards Reception in Houston in person
- Designs must reflect your own personal culture and identity
- No AI-generated or AI-edited artwork; hand-created or digitally drawn by the contestant
Official partner · fiscal sponsor
CoolxDad
Amplifying fatherhood in Houston and beyond.
Founded by Kevin Barnett, CoolxDad is a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the role of fathers of color in their families and communities. Through programming, events, and education, CoolxDad builds the infrastructure fathers need to show up fully.
coolxdad.com · Houston, TX · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
CoolxKids Program
CoolxKids provides creative exploration and mentorship to empower children through education, community, and self-expression. Anchored at Cullen Middle School in Houston's Third Ward with active expansion into Baytown and beyond; this is the program your contest entry directly supports.
Color Box
Financial security & self-esteem
Fatherhood
#beacooldad series & community
CoolxKids
Creative youth mentorship
CoolxTips
Tools for fathers & families
All contest shirt sale profit + 15% of grand prize capsule sales → CoolxDad
Key dates
2026 Contest Timeline
Mark your calendar.
- 01
Early Aug
Submissions Open
- 02
Aug 26
Zoom Onboarding Q&A
- 03
Aug 27 – Sep 7
Submit Your Design (+ Optional Video)
- 04
Sep 11 – Oct 2
Public Voting Window
- 05
Oct 10
Winners Announced
- 06
Nov 20–21
Awards Reception
- 07
Nov 27 – Jan 2
Winner's Collection Sold Online
How to enter
01
Register
Sign up to receive contest updates, submission portal access, and your Zoom onboarding invite. Registration is free.
02
Zoom Onboarding Q&A
Join our live Q&A hosted by the Color Culture team. Ask anything about the brief, submission format, or print specs. Recording available after.
03
Submit Your Design
Upload your design plus a short creator bio. Parent/guardian co-signs for ages 5–15.
04
Optional: Video Pitch
Add a 30-second video about your line to strengthen your submission. A video helps with visibility and helps us better understand you and your art. Tell your story before the vote opens.
05
Get Your Community Voting
Voting runs Sept 11 – Oct 2. Share your design everywhere; 1 unit purchased = 1 vote. Standings update daily. Your community is your campaign.
Print zone
What to submit
T-shirt specs
- Garment color
- Black or White ONLY
- Front print zone
- 15" wide × 19" tall
- Type of print
- Direct to Garment; Kornit Atlas
- Resolution
- High resolution (preferably 300 DPI minimum at print size)
For youth sizes the prints will be scaled smaller to fit the smaller t-shirt sizes.
Direct to Garment · Kornit Atlas
Inkjet technology prints directly onto the fabric with photographic-quality color reproduction. The Kornit Atlas is a commercial-grade industrial printer capable of printing on cotton, blends, and most fabric types. Best for complex designs with gradients, many colors, or photographic elements.
Design files & submission
Accepted file formats
- ✓PNG Preferred. High resolution. Transparent or white background. 300 DPI+.
- ✓JPG / JPEG Accepted for photo-based or raster designs. High resolution. 300 DPI+.
- ✓PDF Vector-based accepted. High resolution. Fonts must be vectorized.
- ✓Adobe Illustrator / EPS High resolution. Fonts must be vectorized. Linked images embedded.
- ✓PSD High resolution. Flatten layers before export or include a flattened PNG. Fonts must be vectorized.
- ✕CANVA / SLIDES Not accepted as final files; export to PNG or PDF.
- ✕PHONE SCREENSHOTS Not accepted; too low resolution for production.
What help is available
- Zoom Onboarding Q&A (Aug 20); ask anything about specs, files, or process
- Color Culture team available by email during the submission window
- We can convert sketches and drawings to digital files; reach out early
- File check service: email contest@colorculture.com with a draft for format review before the deadline
Parent/guardian consent (ages 5–15)
- Co-sign the submission form digitally. Link provided in the submission form.
- Confirm contestant identity and Texas residency
- Consent to public display and sale of the young creator's designs
- Consent to photo/video capture at the Awards Reception
- Accompany the winner/finalist to the Awards Reception (Nov 20–21)
- Tax documentation: W-9 or W-8BEN required for prize payout
Prizes & payout
What you win
Ages 5–8
Little Creators
Finalist prize
$2,500
Cash prize
Online limited shirt drop sold through Jan 2
Shirt sales profit → CoolxDad
Ages 9–12
Rising Talent
Finalist prize
$2,500
Cash prize
Online limited shirt drop sold through Jan 2
Shirt sales profit → CoolxDad
Ages 13–17
Next Gen
Finalist prize
$2,500
Cash prize
Online limited shirt drop sold through Jan 2
Shirt sales profit → CoolxDad
★ Grand prize
$5,000 Cash
+ Full eCommerce collection launch (Black Friday → Jan 2) + Professional photo/video + Full PR push + 15% of capsule sales → CoolxDad
Note: $5,000 is the total Grand Prize amount. It is not additional to the $2,500 finalist prize.
Prize payout & tax requirements
W-9 form required for all finalists and winners before payout can be processed (IRS requirement for prizes over $600) · Prizes above $600 are considered taxable income — consult a tax professional · Cash prizes distributed at the Awards Reception ceremony · All forms must be submitted by October 31, 2026; processing takes 2–3 weeks.
Live standings & voting
1 unit sold
= 1 vote
100% public. No judging panel.
Voting window dates
Voting opens September 11, 2026 and closes October 2, 2026. 21 days to build your campaign.
Live standings
Standings are publicly visible throughout the entire competition window, up until 24 hours before the winners are announced. See exactly where you stand daily against your age group.
How to win votes
Share on social, get family and community to purchase. Instagram drove 60% of votes in Year 1; go there first.
Where voting happens
All voting happens through purchases on the Color Culture platform. Most units sold in each age group wins.
Winner announcement
Winners announced publicly October 10, 2026. The Grand Prize winner is selected from the three age group finalists.
Tie-breaking
In a tie, Color Culture selects based on submission quality, brief alignment, and community impact.
Awards ceremony
Winners Reception
Weekend of November 20–21, 2026 · Houston, TX · Co-hosted with CoolxDad
What it is
A private mixer and collection preview night; an exclusive look at all winning collections before they go live on Black Friday.
Awards & prizes
Cash prizes and physical awards are distributed at the ceremony only. Finalist prizes ($2,500) and the Grand Prize ($5,000) are presented that night.
The vibe
Families, friends, sponsors, and community all present. Your work on display before it drops to the world. Runway reveal meets celebration.
Who must attend
Required for all finalists and the Grand Prize winner. 2 tickets per participant. You must be present in person with a guardian. No exceptions.
Travel support
Color Culture will help coordinate travel for finalists and the Grand Prize winner. Reach out early; we want every winner there.
Post-reception launch
The Grand Prize collection launches Black Friday, November 27. Sales run through January 2, 2027, with 15% of proceeds to CoolxDad.
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Attendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · HoustonAttendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · HoustonAttendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · HoustonAttendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · HoustonAttendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · HoustonAttendance required for finalists & winners · 2 tickets per participant · Nov 20–21 · Houston
Built Different.
We've been waiting on you.
Now show us in color.
Email us at contest@colorculture.com with any questions.
Follow us on Instagram at @wearecolorculture for live updates about the competition.