March design challenges
Designers: you’ve tackled novelty animal prints, quirky winter themes, and gathered inspiration from creative hobbies and cocktails alike. Now it’s time to switch gears and take a month to return to the artist’s favorite math class: Geometry. Based on requests from our designer community, surface design trends and popular searches, we’ve carefully selected 5 geometric themes this month. Some are rooted in spiritual practice (mandalas), others we’re used to seeing in nature (hexagons), and there are a few other super fun themes in between that we think you’re going to love. 

Mosaic | Results announced: 3/2

Mosaic
Greater than the sum of their parts, mosaics are proof that many tiny, seemingly unremarkable shapes can come together to create something beautiful and special. Show us your repeating designs inspired by mosaics! Design must repeat and be brand new to Spoonflower.  Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.”  Submissions close February 21, 2017 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Voting begins February 23, 2017.  See official rules.

Geodesic | Results announced: 3/9

geodesic blue
A true geometric “trompe-l’œil,” geodesic shapes appear curved but are really made up of entirely straight lines. Create a design inspired by geodesic lines. Design must repeat and be brand new to Spoonflower.  Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.”  Submissions close February 28, 2017 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Voting begins March 2, 2017.  See official rules.

Mandalas | Results announced:  3/16

woman drawing mandalas

In Sanskrit, the word “mandala” simply means circle. It is known as a spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. One of the most well known examples is the sand Mandala — a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.”  Submissions close March 7, 2017 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Voting begins March 9, 2017.  See official rules.

Tangrams | Results announced:  3/23

tangram puzzle with hand
Originating in China, a tangram is a dissection puzzle made up of seven pieces known as “tans.” Essentially, it is a shape made up of a group of smaller shapes that never overlap. Create a design inspired by tangrams. Design must repeat, and must be entirely new to Spoonflower. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.”  Submissions close March 14, 2017 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Voting begins March 16, 2017.  See official rules.

Hexagons | Results announced: 3/30

hexagon shelving in a white room

From honeycombs to water crystals and basalt columns, examples of hexagons are all around us in nature. Create an original design inspired by this beautifully symmetrical 6-sided polygon. Design must repeat and be entirely new to Spoonflower. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.”  Submissions close March 21, 2017 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Voting begins March 23, 2017.  See official rules.

Grand Prize

One Grand Prize Winner each week will receive $200 in Spoondollars. The winner will also receive additional exposure in our email newsletters, professional photography of their printed designs, and social media mentions.

Second Place

The 2nd place winner will receive $100 in Spoondollars.

Third Place

The 3rd place winner will receive $50 in Spoondollars.

The rest of the top 10

4th through 10th place winners will receive a $20 Spoondollar credit.

All of the top 25

Each of the top 25 entries, determined as set forth above, not receiving one of the foregoing prizes will be automatically proofed for sale in the Spoonflower Marketplace (approximately a $5 value) (the “Runner Up Prize”) if winners are verified sellers.

What else is changing?

  • Beginning with the March design challenges, eligible submissions will no longer be restricted to designs not previously published on the web. Designs must still be brand new to Spoonflower (whether public or private) but we will no longer stipulate that the design may not appear on any other platforms online.
  • The close of voting for design challenges has moved from 3 pm EST on Wednesdays to 3 pm EST on Tuesdays. This change will allow us more time to communicate with the winners, prepare for the announcement, and ensure a completely fair contest. Thanks so much for understanding!

Good luck, designers! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!  See the current top 10 winners.