Guide Shirt Design Contest

September 15, 2025

IOGA Guide‑Designed Tee Contest

Creative Brief • Brand + Production Guidelines • Submission Details

A design contest by and for Idaho guides and outfitters. Build on the prompts below, stay on‑brand, and put your miles on a tee.



Quick Summary

  • Who: Idaho guides (and guide teams) and outfitters; students/apprentices welcome; collabs allowed.

  • What: Submit original T‑shirt designs inspired by the 7 prompts below (plus one “wild card” option).

  • How many: Up to 3 entries per person/team.

  • Format: Vector preferred (AI/SVG/EPS). High‑res PNG (300 dpi) accepted for concept art.

  • Inks: Aim for 1–2 inks; 3 inks max for finalists.

  • Due: Oct 20, 2025 by 11:59 pm MT

  • Submit to: [email protected] with subject: IOGA Tee Contest – Your Name

  • Prizes: 

    • 1st: $200 honorarium + 10 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.

    • 2nd $150 honorarium + 5 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.

    • 3nd $100 honorarium + 5 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.



Purpose & Spirit

This contest celebrates the guide tribe—the lived grit, craft, and camaraderie that make Idaho’s guided experiences unforgettable. Use the prompts as foundations, then take them somewhere fresh while staying printable and on‑brand.

Respect note: When we say “tribe,” we mean crew identity and shared guide culture—not Indigenous cultural motifs. Please do not use Indigenous symbols, regalia, or sacred imagery unless you have explicit permission and collaboration from the community.



Prompts (Build on These)

You can interpret these loosely or literally. Each prompt may be text‑only, icon‑led, or illustration‑driven.

  1. Guided by Idaho
    Minimal Idaho outline with a simple north→south river line. Optional topo line texture. Surrounding type: Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association.

  2. Safety is a Skill
    Pictogram row: PFD • Throwbag • First‑aid • Radio. Subhead: Professional Guides of Idaho. Clean, confident, staff‑ready. Don't use exact words "Safety is a skill"

  3. 71 Years on the Trail
    Vintage script + rope border, tiny tick marks 1954→2025 (It is IOGA's 71st year).

  4. Hands Like Oars
    Palm/blister line art morphs into oar blades. Tagline: Guides - Built on Miles.

  5. Guide Code v1
    Type‑led back print: Guides: We Lead • We Prepare • We Invest • We Leave It Better. Front: small IOGA crest.

  6. Groover Etiquette Dept.
    Vintage “Dept.” badge with microcopy like Respect the System • Lids Down • Lines Tight • Pack It Out. Humor, not crass.

  7. Guide Family // Idaho
    A knot forming a circle (e.g., figure‑eight follow‑through), with dots for crew members. Sub: Trust in the Line.

Wild Card (optional): One open concept that embodies the Idaho guide life—earned miles, mentorship, stewardship, and the wild.



Brand Requirements

Logo usage (required on every entry):

  • Include IOGA logo  (provided in the asset pack here).

  • Do not redraw, stretch, add effects, or alter proportions. Maintain clear space = height of the “I” around the mark.

  • Minimum print size: wordmark 1.5" wide, crest 1.0" wide.

  • Acceptable lockups: chest (pocket area), sleeve (2"), or back neck (1.5").

Color system (preferred palette but open to what you think works):

  • Forest (PMS 3425 C)

  • River Blue (PMS 2945 C)

  • Charcoal (Cool Gray 11 C)

  • Cream (PMS 7499 C)

Shirt base colors (recommended): heather gray, slate, indigo/navy, olive.

Typography (guidance):

  • Clean, legible sans or slab for utility; heritage script for “71 Years” only.

  • Avoid overly trendy or distressed fonts; keep it readable at 6–8 ft.

Voice & tone: Professional, authentic, stewardship‑forward. No political slogans, profanity, or content that encourages unsafe/illegal behavior.



Production Constraints (Design for Print)

  • Ink count: Target 1–2 inks (spot colors). Finalists may use up to 3.

  • No gradients/photography; use halftones/screening sparingly (≥45 LPI).

  • Minimum line weight: 0.5–0.75 pt (printer‑friendly).

  • Max print areas: Front/back up to 12" W x 14" H; pocket/crest 3" W; sleeve 2.25–2.75" W.

  • Negative space: Keep at least 1/8" between small details.

  • Ink type: Water‑based or soft‑hand plastisol. Avoid giant solid blocks on dark shirts.



What to Submit

  1. Design files:

    • Preferred:

      • Vector .AI/.SVG/.EPS (text outlined; strokes expanded; spot colors named)

      • Additional version in PDF

    • Accepted for concept: 300 dpi .PNG on transparent background (at 12" width)

  2. Mockups (optional but helpful) in PDF: Front/back placement and colorway suggestions.

  3. Prompt mapping: Which prompt you’re interpreting (or Wild Card).

  4. Color callouts: Pantone or “use house Forest/River/Charcoal/Cream.”

  5. Credit name(s) & shop/handle (for attribution if selected).

  6. Contact info (email + phone).

File naming: Lastname_Firstname_PromptName_V1.ai (e.g., Weiseth_Erik_GuideFamily_V1.ai).

Submit to: [email protected]



Judging & Selection

Process: Panel review (IOGA staff/board + guide reps) will go through all submissions and decide on up to 3 finalist that will be printed on shirts, to be sold at the annual meeting in December.  Member/guide vote on winner from top 3 finalists at the annual meeting → Winners announced at the annual meeting in Wallace. IOGA may suggest minor edits to meet print constraints.

Prizes:

  • 1st: $200 honorarium + 10 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.

  • 2nd $150 honorarium + 5 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.

  • 3nd $100 honorarium + 5 tees + credit on product page + signature on design; finalists showcased at the IOGA Annual Meeting in Wallace.



Rights & Permissions

By submitting, you warrant that your work is original and does not infringe any third‑party rights. If selected for production, you grant IOGA an exclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to manufacture, market, and sell the design on merchandise and digital assets. You retain portfolio rights to display the work with “Produced by IOGA” credit. IOGA may make minor technical adjustments for print.

If your design includes a collaborator or photographer, you must include written permission.



Timeline (Editable)


  • Submission deadline: Oct 20, 2025 (11:59 pm MT)

  • Top 3 announced announced: Oct 31, 2025

  • Print window: Nov 1 - Nov 25, 2025

  • Debut: IOGA Annual Meeting, Wallace, ID – Dec 1–5, 2025



FAQs

Can I submit more than one design? Yes, up to 3 per person/team.

Do I have to use the exact phrases? No—paraphrase or interpret as long as it’s clearly based on the prompt and stays on‑brand.

Can I enter as a team? Yes—list all contributors for credit.

What if I don’t have vector files? Submit a hi‑res PNG for concept; finalists may be asked to provide/convert to vector.

Can I change the year on “71 Years on the Trail”? 

Will I get feedback if not selected? We’ll try to share general notes; due to volume we can’t guarantee individualized feedback.



Assets & Contact

  • Asset pack: IOGA wordmark & crest (AI/SVG), color swatches (ASE), template mockups (PSD/PNG). (Link to be provided.)

Questions: [email protected]