The annual programme is a single competition under the TDC71 umbrella consisting of three disciplines: Communication Design, Lettering and Type Design. Physical entries will once again be accepted, details on each are available on the entry website.
For the first time in its more than seven decades of existence, the competition will use Jury Presidents. These top creatives from around the world, to be announced shortly, will lead judging for each discipline, guide discussion, and have a vote on the work.
To be eligible, work must have been produced or published in the 2024 calendar year. Early bird deadline for entry is November 1, 2024, with entry fees increasing for the regular deadline of January 31, 2025, and final deadline on February 28, 2025.
Branding for this year’s competition was created by Paprika, based in Montréal, with fonts generously donated by Klim Type Foundry, in Wellington, NZ.
The design concept features intricate patterns using the letters and numbers ‘TDC71’ as a visual motif, transforming them into a cohesive design where traditional readability is reshaped to achieve a striking visual impact.
‘This deliberate obscurity is meant to draw viewers in, creating a sense of curiosity and engagement,’ said Joanne Lefebvre, Paprika president. ‘The resulting patterns, while abstract, carry a distinct identity that is unmistakable and instantly recognisable. Throughout the campaign, the patterns are applied at various scales and paired with a diverse palette of background colours, introducing a sense of freshness and variability within the system.’
By exploring unexpected letter connections, the design evokes other scripts beyond the Latin alphabet, hinting at a universal language of typography. The choice to have the patterns bleed and extend beyond their frames symbolises TDC’s mission of reaching out, knitting together different typographic traditions, innovations and communities.
Competition Details
TDC71 judges will be announced shortly. Across the three juries, the competition will have native experts for writing systems spanning Arabic, Cyrillic, Indic, CJK, Thai, and African scripts, reflecting TDC’s commitment to have a greater number of the most appropriate experts judging work for which they have a deep knowledge.
The TDC competition regularly receives entries from more than 60 countries. To make TDC71 as accessible as possible on a global level, the organisation is offering significant regional discounts on entry fees.
Winners of TDC71 receive a Certificate of Typographic Excellence and digital seal certifying their work is among the world’s best of the year. Winning work will also be featured in the highly respected TDC Annual, The World’s Best Typography®, and showcased in eight exhibitions that travel to museums, schools and design organisations around the world.
TDC71 winners are also part of The One Club’s prestigious Global Creative Rankings, earning points alongside winners in The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Art Director Club of Europe (ADCE), and ONE Asia Creative Awards to chart the world’s leading independent creatives, ad agencies, production companies and brands.
TDC71
https://enter.tdc.org
