While many student creative competitions focus on brands, products, and market challenges, The One Club for Creativity has decided to focus attention on something rarely seen in creative briefs – voter turnout.
The organization has launched the new global “Get Out the Vote” brief, aimed at students and young creatives worldwide, with the goal of developing campaigns that could encourage greater participation in elections.
The initiative comes from Young Ones, one of the best-known educational and student programs within The One Club, and its focus is not on political positions, parties, or candidates. The task is straightforward: find creative ways to motivate more people to vote.
The initiative continues The One Club’s long tradition of socially engaged projects developed through various creative programs. The organization has previously used the power of the creative community to address issues such as tolerance, unity, and social inclusion, demonstrating that creativity can play a role beyond commercial communication.
This time, the focus is on a generation that has significant influence on culture and public discourse, yet often demonstrates low levels of political participation. The brief therefore asks entrants to explore the reasons why young people choose not to vote, including the belief that a single vote cannot make a difference or the perception that the electoral process is too complicated.
The competition is divided into three creative tracks. The first focuses on creating a culture of voting and civic participation. The second seeks to connect voting with contemporary culture and the identities of younger generations, while the third explores how voting can become a shared experience that people plan and participate in together, particularly through the concept of early voting.
Students may submit work across multiple formats, including print, video, social media, and activations. The total prize fund amounts to $15,000. The winning entry will receive $5,000, two runners-up will each receive $2,500, and five finalists will receive $1,000 each.
Beyond the financial awards, participants will have the opportunity to gain exposure to some of the industry’s most influential creative leaders. Entries will be evaluated by chief creative officers, executive creative directors, and independent creatives who served on the juries of this year’s The One Show and ADC 105th Annual Awards, two of the world’s most prestigious advertising and design competitions.
Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club for Creativity, said that this generation is simultaneously the most capable of shaping the future of its societies and one of the generations most likely to question whether its voice truly matters.
The competition is open to students aged 18 and older from around the world, as well as recent graduates who completed their studies after March 13, 2025. Entry is free, and the submission deadline is August 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in mid-September.
For The One Club, this is not simply another student brief. It is an attempt to engage the creative industry in addressing a challenge that has become increasingly visible in many countries in recent years – the growing gap between political processes and the generations that will live longest with their consequences.
