The TDC71 Annual Competition is a globally recognized event organized by the Type Directors Club (TDC), dedicated to celebrating and advancing excellence in typography. With over seven decades of history, this competition brings together typographers, graphic designers, and lettering artists from across the world. It offers professionals a platform to showcase their innovative work in three main disciplines: Communication Design, Lettering, and Type Design. By accepting both digital and physical entries, the TDC71 competition accommodates a wide range of creative submissions, ensuring inclusivity for a diverse pool of talent across multiple regions and writing systems.
This prestigious competition not only highlights the best typographic work but also fosters dialogue and collaboration among global design communities. TDC71 continues to break new ground by including experts in a variety of scripts, such as Arabic, Cyrillic, Indic, CJK, Thai, and African writing systems, ensuring that the judging process is both comprehensive and representative. This focus on inclusivity, combined with the introduction of Jury Presidents for each category, strengthens the competition’s mission of advancing typographic standards and celebrating creativity across cultures.
Participants in the TDC71 competition stand to gain international recognition. Winners receive a Certificate of Typographic Excellence, a digital seal, and the opportunity to have their work featured in the TDC Annual - The World’s Best Typography. Their winning pieces are also displayed in exhibitions that travel to top museums, schools, and design organizations worldwide. This exposure provides winning designers with significant visibility and the chance to join the ranks of the world’s leading creatives, as the competition is linked to The One Club’s Global Creative Rankings, a prestigious benchmark in the industry.
Entry fees vary by region, with early entry fees starting at $90 for non-members in top-tier countries, with discounts for members and specific regions.
Eligibility
TDC71 is a global competition. Work must have been produced or published in the 2024 calendar year.
Prize
Winners receive a Certificate of Typographic Excellence and a digital seal, marking their work as among the best globally. Their winning entries are featured in the TDC Annual, The World’s Best Typography, and are displayed in exhibitions traveling to museums, schools, and design organizations around the world. Additionally, winners earn points in the prestigious Global Creative Rankings alongside other top design competitions, enhancing their international reputation.
