Article

UNESCO launches Fit for Life Visual Design Contest

UNESCO’s Sector for Social and Human Sciences is launching a design contest targeting the most creative minds to design a visual identity for its sports flagship, Fit for Life.

It is an opportunity for people around the world to showcase their skills and give an identity to an initiative that will have a positive impact worldwide. Participants will have the chance to collaborate and compete with artistic creators from around the world and the possibility to win promotional features in UNESCO-branded materials and a contract of up to 6,000 USD.
Winner Fit for Life Photo Contest - Ivonne Muñoz Hernandez

Fit For Life

Fit For Life is a global initiative designed to advocate smart investments in sport to drive outcomes in education, equality, and wellbeing. Fit for Life is about getting more people to participate in sport and measuring the impacts of their participation across society. Fit For Life will use sport to fight inactivity, mental health issues and inequalities, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives

  1. Develop a visual identity and a range of related products to be used by UNESCO and partners in the promotion and implementation of Fit for Life.
  2. Engage civil society, and particularly youth, in the initiative and showcase their creativity.

Users

The Fit for Life brand will notably be used by:

  1. The UNESCO Secretariat and networks (Chairs, schools, etc.).
  2. Public authorities responsible for sport and others (ministries, local authorities, etc).
  3. Investors (businesses and development banks).
  4. Sports rights holders: sports organizations (federations, NOCs, clubs), media, and sponsors.
  5. Sport for Development and Peace organizations.
  6. Fit for Life Champion countries and cities.

Who can participate?

Participants from around the world can decide to engage individually or in groups. UNESCO particularly encourages youth and individuals from marginalized communities to participate. To ensure an inclusive and representative outcome, participants should consider gender equality and other forms of diversity in their design submissions.

When?

The design contest will run from 6 April to 24 June 2023, with the winner announced during the Seventh International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VII), which will take place from 26 to 29 June 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

How?

  • Extension of deadline: Participants should submit their proposals to F4L@unesco.org by 20 May at 23:59 CET.
  • Participants should include in their emails a compressed file with their visual identity package and a summary of intent.

Visual identity package

Design elements of the visual identity should connect to Fit for Life’s core issue areas including equality as a priority. It is critical to emphasize and effectively communicate Fit for Life's all-encompassing, values-based approach and the intrinsic benefits of participation in physical education. Additionally, visual identities need to be inclusive, accessible, and relevant to diverse audiences, including those with visual impairments, and should also be available in multiple languages.

Composition and Format

The visual identity package should include the following elements as a minimum:

1. Symbol(s) and Shape(s):

  • 1024 x 2048 pixels.
  • PNG format.
  • High resolution.
  • Transparent background.
  • Secondary symbol variations (reduced, stacked, horizontal, vertical).

2. Color Palette:

  • Limit the color palette to maximum of 5 colors.
  • Varied colors selected for content, channels, or product categories.
  • Black and white version.

3. Typography:

  • Wordmark.
  • Headline Font.
  • Body Copy Font.

4. Web banner wall:

  • Virtual meeting and video conference backdrop.
  • Webpage banner.

5. MS Word template:

  • Default document to create documents for events, meetings, and other recurring needs.

6. MS PowerPoint Template:

  • Default document to create presentations for events, meetings, and other recurring needs.

7. Visual identity guide:

  • A comprehensive playbook, including the above elements and setting out how the visual identity should and should not be displayed, including specifications.

Contest winners

The winners of the design contest will receive:

  • A profile feature on the Fit for Life website.
  • A profile feature in UNESCO’s social media accounts.
  • A contract with the Sport Section worth up to 6,000 USD (regardless of the size of the group) to finalize the proposal and support the launch of the visual identity and related communication e.g., develop related products such as a promotional video, and a communications strategy.
  • Recognition and promotion amongst UNESCO’s networks e.g., mention in a Fit for Life info letter disseminated to Fit for Life partners.

Important

The task is not to create a Fit for Life Logo or Symbol, but rather a fluid and recognizable visual identity, look and feel or visual layer, that would coexist and be complementary to UNESCO logo and visual identity, to be used on all different platforms and channels when the Organization communicates on this specific program.

Good luck!