USITT is seeking expressions of interest from students and early-career creatives to participate in the Emerging Digital Design Showcase during the USITT26 Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Presented on the main USITT Awards Stage, this curated showcase highlights the next generation of digital and graphic designers working in performance, live events, and immersive environments.
This year’s showcase is inspired by the ocean, coastal environments, and the world beneath the surface — reflecting both the Long Beach location and the ideas of depth, motion, and interconnectedness inherent in live performance. Designers are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly rather than literally.
This showcase is not a competition; rather, it is intended as a platform for visibility, mentorship, and the celebration of emerging voices within the USITT community.
Content Format:
1. Participants must submit a digital motion graphics or visual design piece suitable for large-scale stage presentation no later than MARCH 1, 2026.
• File format: QuickTime movie (.mov)
• Codec: PhotoJPEG (Medium Resolution)
• Resolution: Minimum 1920 × 1080 (HD), up to 3840 × 2160 (4K)
• Maximum length: 3 minutes
• Audio: Optional but encouraged; must be embedded within the video file
Don’t worry if your work was created as part of a class, collaborative project, or exploratory exercise. This showcase values creative intent, clarity, and voice over polish or production scale.
2. Short Designer Statement
A brief written description (approximately 150–250 words) explaining the concept, intent, and relationship of the work to the ocean/coastal theme.
3. Creator Information
Name, school or program (if applicable), and current status (student, recent graduate, or early-career professional).
4. Attribution and Credits
Any relevant credits or acknowledgments for collaborators, instructors, or institutions.
5. Optional Process Material
Sketches, style frames, or brief process visuals that provide insight into the creative process.