SAE 50: Shape the Future
In 2026, SAE will proudly celebrate 50 years of shaping the future of creative media and technology. To celebrate this milestone, we’re thrilled to announce a brand new student-led creative competition – SAE 50: Shape the FutureThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for SAE's 12,500 students around the world to showcase their talent on an international stage and define the look and sound of our 50-year anniversary across our global network. Winning works featured across SAE’s American, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific and African campuses 🌍 as well as fantastic prizes on offer including a trip to Germany!
The Logos
The Competition
Competition entrants will define the look and sound of our 50-year anniversary across our global network, developing two key creative assets across two stages:
This competition is open to current SAE students from all 47 campuses worldwide, with interdisciplinary and international collaboration between students highly encouraged.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 entrants must register for the competition by clicking the button below.
Registered entrants will then receive access to the SAE wordmark logo (stage 1) and the winning stage 1 entry (stage 2).
The Creative Challenge
Honor the past – Reflecting SAE’s pioneering role in creative media education since 1976.
Celebrate the present – Showcasing SAE’s global, innovative, and diverse creative community.
Inspire the future – Embodying SAE’s bold, transformative vision for the next generation of creatives.
Competition Deliverables / Categories
Design a 50-Year Commemorative Logo that visually reflects the evolution of SAE’s brand identity to mark this historic occasion. Open to individual submissions only.
- A special edition logo that builds upon the existing SAE brand identity
- Should balance heritage and modernity, representing 50 years of creative and technical excellence
- Needs to be adaptable across print, digital, and motion applications
- Must be supplied in Vector and JPEG formatsexamples from the 40 anniversary logo:
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- A 10-15 second animation merging the soundmark and logo
- Should reflect SAE’s global presence, cutting-edge technology, and creative energy
- Must be optimised for use in video intros, social media, and digital campaigns
- Must be supplied in 4k ProRes and wav. format
✅ Creativity & Originality – How well does the work stand out and reflect SAE’s spirit?
✅ Brand Alignment – Does it complement SAE’s visual and sonic identity?
✅ Technical Excellence – Is it well-executed and industry-standard?
✅ Versatility – Can it be used across various formats and platforms?
This competition is open to current SAE students from all 47 campuses worldwide, spanning:
🌍 North America (USA & Canada)
🌍 Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Netherlands, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Serbia)
🌍 Asia-Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia)
🌍 Middle East & Africa (Jordan, UAE, South Africa)
🌍 Latin America (Mexico)
We encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to create truly groundbreaking work.
Teams with members across countries and borders are especially encouraged, with additional judging considerations applied.
However, it is NOT compulsory to form a team to enter a submission.
The Prize
The Stage 1 winner will receive:
✈️ A trip for you and a friend to Cologne, Germany to the 2025 SAE Global Alumni Student Convention including Flights, transfers and 4 nights twin-share accommodation.
💰 €500 spending money (for the winner only)
✅ Travel insurance.
🧳 Exclusive SAE swag.
🌏 Featured placement on SAE’s official channels worldwide
💼 A professional portfolio review and showcase opportunities
The Stage 2 winner/s will each receive:
✈️ A trip to Cologne, Germany to the 2025 SAE Global Alumni Student Convention including Flights, transfers and 4 nights twin-share accommodation.
💰 €500 spending money (per winner)
✅ Travel insurance.
🧳 Exclusive SAE swag.
🌏 Featured placement on SAE’s official channels worldwide
Submission Guidelines and Timelines
Ready to make your mark on a global scale?
We can’t wait to see what you create! 🚀
Submission deadline for Stage 1 (logo design): Friday 30 May 2025~
Stage 1 winner (logo design) announced: Friday 6 June 2025
Stage 2 (animation and soundmark) submissions open: Monday 9 June 2025
Submission deadline for Stage 2 (animation and soundmark): Friday 15 August 2025
~ Open dates and deadlines are based on the participants official time zone of their respective participating campus where they are enrolled.
Got questions?
Contact your local campus for more details on submission guidelines, judging criteria, and competition requirements.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this milestone celebration.
Reach out today! 🚀
