Technical Art Competition

The FTCC Technical Art Competition accepts physical media and online entries. Physical media include products that are mounted for viewing or included in a book, brochure, or other paper-based publication. Online includes art in products that depend on an electronic medium for delivery.

For physical media entries in the technical art competition, entries should be quality reproductions. Original artwork will not be accepted. Entries requiring mounting should be on standard-sized foam core or mat board. If such entries are not mounted, they will not be accepted or returned. Oversized entries (over 11×17 inches) must be rolled instead of mounted.  

Online art entries must be integrated into a viewer application, not dependent on the design package used to create them. For example, a piece of art included in a help file or Web page is acceptable. A file saved from a design or graphics application is not acceptable.

What are the Categories for the FTCC Technical Art Competition?

For 2008-2009, the number of categories has been reduced from 17 to 12. The FTCC Technical Art Competition includes the following 12 categories:

1. Mechanical illustration, line and tone. Mechanical illustrations (line and tone) are composed entirely of lines, dots, and solid areas of black and white and color or composed of shading that graduates from one color (or shade of gray) to another. The artwork requires precise depiction of the subject, including the proportions or relationships of objects depicted or represented and subject matter is not open to interpretation. Entries may include exploded views, cutaways, orthographic or isometric projections, schematics, diagrams, graphs, charts, and tables. Physical media entries must be mounted. Each copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration’s publication or an example of its use. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube. Otherwise, smaller physical entries must be mounted.
2. Interpretative illustration, line and tone. Interpretative illustrations are composed entirely of lines, dots, and solid areas and are color or black and white, while tonal illustrations are composed of continuous tones that graduate from one color (or shades of gray) to another. While the subject is technical in nature, intended use permits artistic interpretation of features or physical arrangements. The image includes illustrative views depicting arrangement or general configuration, cartoons, and conceptual visualizations (as in technical proposals). Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube. Otherwise, smaller physical entries must be mounted. A copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration’s publication or an example of its use.
3. Photograph. Photographic entries contain technical content that demonstrates mastery of light and of the medium (film or digital). Photographs may contain innovative lighting, multiple exposures, or other effects and may be black and white or color. Physical media entries must be mounted. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up entry and send in a mailing tube.
4. Manual/Book and Cover Design. This category includes user and reference manuals designed for technical products, services, or organizations; and books on technical subjects, published covers, software product splash screens, and World Wide Web home pages. The design should support the flow of information and the ease with which the reader can locate and identify specific information. Cover design considers integration and placement of visual images and accompanying text. Note: Covers must be mounted; front and back views are preferred. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube.
5. Annual Report Design. Annual reports summarize the activities or financial position of a corporation, governmental agency, or nonprofit community organization.  The design should support the focus and projected image of the entity, and present financial and technical information in a visual manner.
6. Catalog Design. Catalogs may be used to deliver information about technical products and services.  Catalogs should present large amounts of data in a readable format and provide information on ordering the product or service while being visually pleasing.
7. Magazine Design. This category includes regularly scheduled publications in a magazine format, with a feature treatment including photographs and art, about an organization, technology, industry, or scientific field. The intended audience may be either internal or external, special-interest, or the general public. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.
8. Promotional and Informational Poster Design. Promotional posters support or market an employee campaign, a technical product, an organization, or an event. The entry description should include information about the poster use. Informational posters communicate educational information (as opposed to marketing) about a technical or scientific subject, service, or organization. The audience may be technical or the general public. The entry description should include information on how and where the poster was used. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube. Otherwise, smaller physical entries must be mounted.
9. Packaging Design. This category includes packaging for hardware, software, multimedia, end-user merchandise, and boxes containing two or more manuals. If the package includes, software, do not include software media.
10. Promotional and Informational Materials Design. Promotional materials include flyers, advertisements, product data sheets, single-unit promotional handouts, and multiple-page publications that market a technical product, service, or organization. Corporate and program identity materials (folders, stationery, logos, etc.) are acceptable if they communicate technical information or images. Do not mount entries larger than Informational materials category includes multiple-page publications that provide information to the general public or a particular audience about a technical or scientific subject, product, service, or organization. Publications include newsletters, technical reports, proceedings, and organizational manuals. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube.
11. Quick Reference Design. This category includes materials that provide concise reference to essential features of a technical product, service, or subject. This includes graphical devices, data reference tools, and other job aids. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube.
12. Display. This category includes large-scale presentations such as trade show booths, exhibits, and billboards. Because of the size and space requirements of the original, photographs, illustrations, or other representative material is accepted in lieu of the display. The presentation material is not judged in and of itself, but is used to provide information about the display. Presentation material must be appropriately mounted or bound. An explanation of the actual display must be provided.

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