Unleash Your Creativity: USA Fencing's National Poster Design Challenge Returns for 2024-25!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fencing rewards creativity on the strip, and those who master the artistry of their weapon will find growth, joy and personal success.

But a fencer’s creative artistry doesn’t have to end after the final touch. 

Back for another year is the USA Fencing National Poster Design Challenge — a chance for our members to create posters that visually represent fencing as a diverse, fun, accessible and safe sport for everyone.

We’re asking members of our community age 13 and older to create original posters that fulfill one or more of the categories below.

There will be two categories again this year:

• Artwork generated with the help of AI.

• "Human-made" artwork not made with AI.

We plan to reveal all of the amazing submissions received in our new mobile art gallery that will be on display at future USA Fencing national tournaments. And the winning submission — as voted by you — will have their work printed and displayed at future NACs, in addition to receiving a free USA Fencing Competitive membership for the 2024-25 season. 

Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know before you apply.

USA Fencing is committed to providing safe spaces that promote unity and inclusion, as well as the ease of information around our sport. 

So we’re looking for imagery that challenges the status quo; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and supports safe, healthy and respectful environments for all to enjoy the sport of fencing.

More specifically, we’re looking for designs that cover one or more of the following important topics:

• Anti-Discrimination (posters that fight against ageism, sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, classism, weight, or other ways that people might discriminate)

• Fencing is for ALL (posters that promote unity and/or inclusion)

• Anti-sexual harassment

• Anti-emotional abuse

• Mental health awareness

• Environmental justice

• Fencing for people with disabilities (including but not exclusive to parafencing)

We’re also looking for posters that help newcomers better understand fencing:

• How to qualify for national or international events 

• Why someone should try fencing

• Explaining the basic rules of fencing

The USA Fencing National Poster Design Challenge is open to anyone 13 or older. You can enter as an individual or as a team of up to three people. 

Similar to last year, the winning design will be selected by USA Fencing members via social media. Voting will open at the USA Fencing Instagram once the finalists are announced, and then from there, you will take over to determine a winner.

Voting on USA Fencing's Instragram stories will open on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10 am.

• Your sketch can be drawn in any medium by hand or using a computer.

• If you hand-draw your design, please scan it at high resolution (rather than taking a photo) so that we capture all the detail.

• Upload your design as a .jpg file (must be at least 8.5 x 11″ at 300 dpi).

• Don’t use any copyrighted or protected material in your design (but you are welcome to use the USA Fencing and/or USA Parafencing logo!)

• If you’d like, feel free to include your name and/or Instagram handle in the lower left or lower right corner of your design

• Be creative and have fun!

Note: If you are a person or with a disability, you may submit a written description of your idea as a .pdf or an audio description of your idea as an .mp3 as needed (200 words or less) to information@usafencing.org with “National Poster Design Challenge” in the subject line.

• Applications open: Sept. 30, 2024

• Applications close: Dec. 31, 2024

• Voting Opens on Instagram Stories: Jan. 11, 2025
• Voting Closes: Jan. 12, 2025
• Posters Displayed at Junior Olympics: Feb. 14-17, 2025

Apply Here!