Contest Coordinator:
The competition is designed to assess the competitor’s ability to design and produce a trading pin concept for their State SkillsUSA Association.
Key Updates
- Contestants will be interviewed.
- ALL designs must be submitted electronically by March 27, 2026.
- Competitors can advance to the National Leadership & Skills Conference in their category group (MS, HS, or CT/PS).
Guidelines:
- All entries must be rendered in color (full color or two-color). Preferably, entries will be created in a design software package such as Illustrator or Photoshop. However, contestants are permitted to use equivalent open-source software such as Inkscape, Gimp, etc. Licensed software such as the Corel suite, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, etc., is also acceptable. Entries may also be hand-drawn, painted, or rendered in colored pencils or markers.
- All entries should be submitted on a single 8.5″ x11″ page in two sizes: 7″ and 1-1/2″. Both sizes must be identical. The working drawing file and an 8.5″ x 11″ .pdf must be submitted digitally at https://form.jotform.com/260065720845052 by March 27, 2026. NO DESIGNS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON SITE! The larger 7″ version is for showing greater detail. The smaller 1-1/2″ version shows what the actual pin will look like at pin size. The larger version must be 7″ wide or 7″ tall, whichever is the larger dimension, for judging. The smaller version must be 1-1/2″ wide or 1-1/2″ tall on its largest dimension to show how the actual pin will look at pin size. Deductions will be taken for each size version as follows: Every 1/4″ over or under on the 7″ version and every 1/8″ over or under on the 1-1/2″ version. Wording on the pin must reference the name of the State, the year, and SkillsUSA. Note that both sizes should be readable, but especially at the 1-1/2″ actual pin size. The SkillsUSA emblem or SkillsUSA logo (or elements of either) should not appear on the pin. The name SkillsUSA must be used, and the proper spelling must be as shown (SkillsUSA is one word; accurate use of capitalization is required to represent the brand’s standards.)
- The design must be the student’s original concept. Use of the students’ own original photos, drawings, or digital art is highly recommended. Designs may be constructed of small amounts of Creative Commons-licensed material, material in the public domain, or commercial stock images. These materials must be accompanied by proof of license and must provide attribution to credit the originator.
- Designs that violate copyright laws are subject to elimination.
- Creativity is requested. What is unique about Nebraska and SkillsUSA? Commonly overused items on designs: the shape of the state, gears, corn, sunsets, hammers, screwdrivers, torches, and combs.
- A total of 6 colors is allowed.