AIGA Maine is proud to present our annual Poster Show, returning in spring 2026 with the theme: LANGUAGE. This year, designers and artists are invited to explore the many ways language shapes how we communicate, connect, and express identity. Submissions may be inspired by spoken, written, signed, or invented languages—ranging from typography and letterforms to translation, slang, symbols, and cultural narratives.

Submit a Poster Now

Selected posters will be featured in a curated traveling exhibition, showcased in venues across the state of Maine. The show celebrates the creative power of language as both a visual and cultural force, highlighting diverse perspectives from our local creative community.

Whether your work reflects personal experience, cultural heritage, or experimental approaches to communication, this poster show offers an opportunity to share your ideas with a wider audience and be part of a statewide design exhibition that sparks conversation through visual storytelling. Looking for inspiration? Check out the entries from our 2022, 2023 and 2024 shows.

Key Dates

Deadline to Apply

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Acceptance Notice

Week of March 9, 2026

Opening Night

TBA (the show will run in multiple locations across Maine from spring though fall of 2026)

What to Know Before You Apply

Eligibility

Open to all designers, including students, professionals, and hobbyists. Individual and collaborative submissions are welcome.

Poster Specs

• Size: 24″ × 36″, vertical orientation
• Color mode: CMYK
• Resolution: 300 DPI
• File format: Print-ready JPG or flattened PDF
  • Please outline all text before exporting to ensure accurate text rendering
• Border requirement (no bleed):
  • Leave a 0.5″ paper-white border on all sides
  • Artwork image area should be 23″ × 35″, centered on an 24″ × 36″ artboard
  • If your submission does not include this border, a white border will be added during printing
• File name: firstname_lastname_title
• File size: under 100 MB

Submission Limit

Limit one poster per application. If you would like to enter more than one design, you may submit multiple applications.

Display Format

AIGA Maine will professionally print and display all selected posters throughout the year at multiple locations across Maine. The show will kick off with an opening night event this spring. Additional details will be announced.

Theme

Your poster must interpret or connect to the theme LANGUAGE. Literal and abstract interpretations are both encouraged.

Jury Selection

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of jurors selected by AIGA Maine. Posters will be selected based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and overall execution.

Participation Fee

A small entry fee is required and helps cover printing, installation, and promotion of the show.

The application fee is $15 for the general public, $5 for students, and waived for AIGA members (check your email or contact us for a code)

If cost is a barrier, please contact us to request a fee waiver

Rights & Usage

Designers retain full copyright to their work. AIGA Maine may photograph or reproduce submitted posters for promotional, social media, and documentation purposes. Please read all the details carefully.