Flooded with images. On screens and on the streets. But, are we actually still looking at them?
Graphic Matters challenges students to design a poster about something from 2026 that they want to stick in people’s minds. A selection of the entries will be exhibited in the 3sec.gallery: a unique opportunity to step out to a large audience for the first time. This is the Student Challenge 2026!
Every year, Graphic Matters organizes the Student Challenge for MBO Mediadesign students and first-year HBO Graphic Design and Illustration students from the Netherlands and Belgium. We challenge them to make a visual statement about a relevant theme or subject.
STICK IT! encourages aspiring designers to speak out from within a safe school environment. By communicating a self-chosen message to the world, students are stimulated to reflect on their role and position as designers in society.
An expert jury (TBA) selects a maximum of 50 striking posters from all submissions. These are exhibited for 3 months in the 3sec.gallery in Breda. An exceptional opportunity for young designers to exhibit and show their work to the outside world!
Every day, you are flooded with images, on screens and on the streets. Online, you navigate through algorithms. Offline, through the jungle of digitally controlled screens and billboards. Images spread incredibly fast, but do we actually still look at them?
For years, posters were the medium of choice for experimentation, typography, and social commentary on the street. In the current era of speed and technology, the poster seems to have changed due to digitization: you don’t only see them pasted on walls but, above all, shared in your feed. This raises an important question: can the poster endure, despite technological developments—in physical space and in our memory? And if you are flooded with images every day, what actually sticks?
For each participating study program, we organize an on-site kick-off to inform, enthuse, and above all, inspire students! We also offer an online inspiration dossier for students and lecturers, containing a variety of articles, videos, podcasts and creators related to the theme.
This year’s assignment is: design an A0-poster about something from 2026 that you want to stick around. You do this by reflecting on the current times: which event, news item, trend, quote, or personal memory in 2026 made such an impression on you that it absolutely must not be forgotten? Positive or negative, analog or digital, images or text—anything goes, as long as you create a poster that sticks!
In doing so, we also challenge students to engage in a visual experiment. The poster may consist entirely of images, entirely of text, or a combination of both. There are no restrictions on the technique used: digital, screen printing, stencils, lettering, photography… anything is possible, as long as it reinforces the message. Teachers are free to structure the guidance as they see fit. After registration, an explanation regarding submission specifications and file submission will follow. We expect one poster submission per participation, but collaboration is encouraged!
“Creating a poster for an out-of-school design challenge is an encouragement for students.” – Teacher, 2023
The Student Challenge concludes with a festive conference at the Chassé Theater on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 1:30 PM.
During this event, there will be special lectures by the jury members, among others—more on that later! Additionally, we will announce which posters have been selected for the exhibition at the 3sec.gallery, which will be jointly opened and visited immediately afterwards. All participants are welcome to attend this free event!
3sec.gallery is the world’s only drive-by gallery. Along the entrance to the Chassé Parking, Graphic Matters presents a new series of posters every three months.
A jury selects the best 50 entries from the Student Challenge. These will be exhibited in the 3sec.gallery until mid-March 2027. Here they will be seen by over 200,000 people.
School registration
Before October 1 via email or the registration form at the bottom of this page
On-site kick-off
From September 1 until the autumn break
Submission deadline
Up to and including Sunday November 8
Conference
Tuesday December 8 at the Chassé Theater
Educational institutions from the Netherlands and Belgium can participate. Participation costs €250 per institution plus travel expenses for 2 people from Breda for the kick-off (this can also be scheduled digitally in consultation).
Specifically for students and lecturers, we are creating an online inspiration dossier featuring relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and inspiring makers. The resources offer information for a solid foundation as well as for further in-depth study. In various sections, the resources help students further with their (visual) research, technical execution, or message. You will find the inspiration dossier here soon.
Make sure to take a look at our previous inspiration dossiers about visual protest (2025), artificial intelligence (2023) or typography (2024).
“Thank you for providing so many opportunities for young students. It’s really cool!” – Docent, Haute École de la Province de Liège
Are you participating in the Student Challenge 2026? Nice! Fill out the registration form below. Would you prefer some more information first? Then email Anouk at educatie@graphicmatters.nl
