Merch Design Contest 2026

Key dates

  1. Now through Nov 8

    Submissions are open. Send up to three designs by email.

  2. Nov 8 Sunday, 11:59 PM ET

    Submission deadline. Late entries won't be considered.

  3. Nov 9 to 10 Mon to Tue

    Entries are reviewed and scored. Up to five finalists are chosen.

  4. Nov 11 Wednesday

    Finalists are announced on Instagram @willowandwand.books and public voting opens.

  5. Nov 15 Sunday, 11:59 PM ET

    Public voting closes.

  6. Nov 17 Tuesday

    Winner announced. The winning artist is contacted by email first.

  7. Nov 20 Friday

    Christmas preorders open for the winning shirt.

Preorder close and pickup dates will be shared when preorders open.

The Brief

Create a sweatshirt design that reflects who we are. Willow & Wand is an independent bookstore and coffee shop opening in Mogadore, Ohio. Our tagline is Where Stories Take Root.

Think books, reading, coffee, small-town Mogadore, Taylor Swift-ish, Harry Potter-ish, and the cozy feeling of a place to stay a while. You can include the name "Willow & Wand" or leave it out. Something people would actually want to wear, not just a logo on a sweatshirt. Your design should work on both a crewneck and a hoodie.

Please email us at hello@willowandwandbooks.com for official logos, fonts, colors, etc. if needed.

What we can't use

  • Anything made or assisted by AI image tools

  • Characters, names, logos, quotes, or lyrics from existing books, movies, music, or brands (this includes Harry Potter and Taylor Swift direct copyright material)

  • Stock images, clip art, or templates

  • Anything offensive or not family friendly

File Specs

  • FORMAT

    PNG (transparent background preferred), PDF or JPEG.

  • RESOLUTION

    At least 300 DPI. Fit the design within 11 × 10 in (3300 × 3000 px).

  • COLORS

    Four colors or fewer, not counting the sweatshirt color. No gradients or photo effects.

  • PLACEMENT

    Front, centered, sitting above a hoodie pocket. An optional back piece is welcome.

  • FONTS

    Hand lettering, or fonts licensed for commercial use.

  • KEEP YOUR FILES

    Save your sketches and layered files. We may ask for them.

how to enter

Email your design to hello@willowandwandbooks.com with the subject line Merch Contest: Your Name. Include:

  • Your design file(s), up to three designs per person

  • Your full name, city, and phone number

  • Your Instagram handle, if you have one

  • A title for your design and one or two sentences about it

  • A line confirming the design is your own original work and no AI was used

  • If you're under 18: your parent or guardian's name and email, and a note that they give permission

You're welcome to share your design on social media and tag @willowandwand.books. Posting is optional and doesn't count as an entry. Only emailed submissions are entered.

Judging

Every entry is scored on four criteria. The top scores become finalists.

30% Creativity and Originality

A fresh idea that feels like it came from you.

25% Adherence to the Theme

Does it feel like Willow & Wand? Books, coffee, community, where stories take root.

25% Design Execution

Clean, intentional work that will print well on fabric and read from a few feet away.

20% Visual Impact

Would someone stop and ask where you got that shirt?

How the winner is picked

Up to five finalists are posted on Instagram for a public vote. Votes count as likes and comments on the finalist post. Public votes are weighed heavily, and Willow & Wand makes the final decision. Votes from fake accounts, bots, or paid services are removed, and the entry may be disqualified.

Prize

One winner receives a $100 Willow & Wand gift card, redeemable once the store opens. The winning design is printed on crewnecks and hoodies and sold as official Willow & Wand merch, and the artist is credited by name on the product listing and in our announcement.

Terms and conditions

  1. Sponsor

    This contest is run by Willow & Wand Books LLC, 94 S. Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore, OH 44260.

  2. Eligibility

    Open to individuals 13 and older. Entrants under 18 need written permission from a parent or guardian, who also agrees to these terms on their behalf. Willow & Wand owners, employees, and their immediate households are not eligible.

  3. Entry period

    Entries must be received by email by 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Willow & Wand isn't responsible for emails that are lost, delayed, or too large to deliver. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

  4. Limit

    Up to three designs per person. Each design must be a separate, distinct concept and use four colors or fewer (not counting the shirt color) so it can be screen printed.

  5. Original work, no AI

    Each design must be entirely your own work, made by hand or with digital tools you operate yourself (for example Procreate, Illustrator, Photoshop). Designs or any part of a design created or altered by generative AI (including Midjourney, DALL·E, Adobe Firefly, Canva Magic Media, or similar tools) are not allowed. Stock images, clip art, and templates are not allowed. Willow & Wand may ask for sketches, layered files, or process photos to confirm a design is original. Entries that can't be verified will be disqualified.

  6. No copyrighted or trademarked material

    Designs may not include characters, names, logos, quotes, lyrics, or artwork owned by anyone else, including from books, films, music, sports teams, or brands. Fonts must be your own lettering or licensed for commercial use.

  7. Content standards

    Designs must be family friendly. Willow & Wand may reject any entry it considers offensive, inappropriate, or not a fit for the brand.

  8. Judging and voting

    Entries are scored on creativity and originality, adherence to the theme, design execution, and visual impact. Up to five finalists go to a public vote on Instagram. Public votes are weighed heavily, and the final decision is made by Willow & Wand and is final. Any attempt to manipulate voting may result in disqualification.

  9. Prize

    One winner receives a $100 Willow & Wand gift card, redeemable at Willow & Wand once the store is open. The gift card has no cash value and can't be exchanged for cash. No substitutions. The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 7 days or an alternate winner may be chosen.

  10. Rights to the winning design

    By accepting the prize, the winner grants Willow & Wand Books LLC the exclusive, permanent, royalty-free right to use, reproduce, adjust for printing (such as sizing and color matching), and sell the design on merchandise and in marketing. The artist keeps the right to show the design in their personal portfolio and will be credited as the designer. The prize is the full payment for these rights.

  11. Finalists and other entries

    Finalists agree that their design, name, and Instagram handle may be posted for public voting and in contest announcements. All other entries remain the property of their artists, and Willow & Wand will not use them for merchandise without written permission.

  12. Your information

    Contact information is used only to run this contest and reach the winner. It won't be sold or shared.

  13. Instagram

    This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram or Meta.

  14. Changes

    Willow & Wand may change dates, extend the deadline, or cancel the contest if needed, and may choose not to award a prize if no entry meets the guidelines. Any changes will be posted on this page and on Instagram.

  15. Governing law

    These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. By entering, you agree to these terms.

Willow & Wand Bookstore Cafe

Questions?‍ ‍hello@willowandwandbooks.com @willowandwand.books