Design contest for the Design Notebook now open

Aalto University Student Union (AYY) and Students of Art, Design and Architecture in Aalto University (TOKYO ry) announce the opening of the design notebook contest. The notebook is intended for all students of Aalto University. The designer will be selected in the traditional way, through a contest among students. The winner of the previous design contest was Evgeniia Markevich, Visual Communication Design MA student, who designed the notebook published in January 2023.  

TOKYO has been publishing the design calendar since 1975. This project is being organised for the sixth time in cooperation with AYY.  

The new design notebook will be published in autumn 2026, but the product is timeless and does not expire at the end of the academic year. The notebook will be distributed to students as long as there are copies left.

Contest rules

1. Contest duration and eligibility  

The contest will begin on 23 Feb 2026 and end on 16 Mar 2026 at 15.00. The contest is open to all Aalto University students. Fluent Finnish or English skills are required to conduct the notebook design. 

2. Submission of entries 

Entries must be submitted no later than 16 Mar 2026 at 15.00.  

You can submit your entry by email as a PDF file titled ‘Design Notebook’ to maria.tuunanen(at)ayy.fi.  

Entries will be processed anonymously. To ensure anonymity, please include a working title on the document you are submitting and include the designers’ names and contact information in the email message.

3. Content of the design 

The entry must include at least the following designs:  

• notebook cover   
• notebook spread  
• student union and/or TOKYO info pages 
• calendar or project plan spread 
• suggested materials  

The Design Notebook size is B6, i.e. 125 x 176 mm (depending on the cover page design). The flexibility will be determined according to the final design and the printing house. Notebook pages must be presented at their actual size.  
 
Advertisements: The notebook will include ads of various sizes. You can also include ideas in your entry for how to incorporate ads as part of the notebook design. 

Colour: Design the notebook entirely in CMYK colours or using two spot colours. The notebook section will be in two colours.  

Number of copies: 5,000–7,000 pcs (to be specified)  

Language: Finnish, English, and Swedish (info pages and other text). The main language can be English, but trilingual content is a plus.  

The choice of materials may need to be adjusted due to limitations imposed by the printing house and the project budget.  

4. Choosing the winner 

The winner of the contest will be chosen by a jury appointed by AYY and TOKYO. The jury will consist of representatives of AYY and TOKYO, as well as a visual communication design specialist. Members of the jury are not allowed to participate in the contest. The jury will provide feedback on the entries and select the winner.  

5. Winner’s commission 

The winner or winners of the contest will be commissioned to produce the final design for the notebook to be published in August 2026. The final design work will take place in April–May 2026. The designer will be paid a fee of EUR 2,000 for their work. The second-best entry will receive a prize of EUR 200.  

6. Content of the design work 

The design work includes preparing print-ready files in cooperation with AYY’s communications sector. If necessary, AYY will provide facilities for work at its office at Otakaari 25. The final design must take into account the customer’s requirements regarding the usability of the notebook and production costs. It is also the designer’s responsibility to modify the ad section into a publishable format if necessary. Other terms of the work will be agreed on in more detail when signing the contract.  

7. Other issues 

The design should take into account the following features: user-friendliness, durability, clarity, and accessibility (e.g. for dyslexia or colour blindness), originality, and environmental friendliness. An ideal notebook works for many different purposes and serves Aalto students in various ways.  

Previously noted good features include plenty of writing space, paper suitable for all types of pens, and a durable cover material.  

The jury will emphasise the following issues when evaluating contest entries:  

♡ The notebook should reflect the entire Aalto community. It should be versatile and allow for various ways of use.  

♡ The jury will also emphasise the quality of how the entry is presented. What does the notebook look like? How does it work? Present your entry in a sensible sequence. Also present the materials, paper types, fonts, and colours you have used. However, the visual appearance is more important than the materials selected.  

♡ What makes your notebook special? Include explanatory descriptions of how the notebook works. Justify your solutions briefly and concisely. 

♡ Do you have the skills to complete the project? Your graphic design skills and your capacity to turn your entry into a finished product should be evident from your entry. The entry is not a finished notebook, but it should be presented as such.  

For further information, please contact AYY’s Visual Communications Specialist Maria Tuunanen maria.tuunanen(at)ayy.fi. 

You can read more about the history of the project and contest on TOKYO website.  

https://tokyo.fi/en/opiskelijakulttuuri/tapahtumat/kalenterikilpailu/  

Have fun designing!