Calling all artists, illustrators, designers, pizza fans, and creative minds: the 2026 OTTO T-Shirt Design Contest is officially open.
We’re inviting our community to help create the next official OTTO T-shirt — a design that will be worn by OTTO team members across New England and offered for sale in limited quantities through the OTTO online shop.
You don’t need to be a professional artist to enter. Whether you’re an experienced illustrator or simply have a great idea that captures the spirit of OTTO, Portland, and Maine, we want to see what you create.
How the Contest Works
The contest will unfold in several phases:
Submissions: July 29–August 30
Beginning July 29, participants may submit one original design through the official contest page. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 30.
Designs should reflect the OTTO brand, community, and personality, and must include the words OTTO, Portland, and Maine or ME.
Because the winning design will be reproduced as a screen-printed shirt, artwork must be created as a single-color design—black artwork on a white background—using bold, solid lines. Gradients, blending, and shading are not permitted.
All artwork must be original. Artwork generated in whole or in part using artificial-intelligence image-generation tools is not eligible.
Finalist Selection: August 31–September 4
After submissions close, OTTO will review all eligible entries and select up to 10 finalists.
Finalists will be chosen based on creativity, originality, alignment with the OTTO brand, wearability, and the design’s suitability for apparel production.
Fan Favorite Voting: September 7–13
The 10 finalist designs will be revealed on September 7, when public voting opens.
Fans will be invited to view the finalists and vote for their favorites through September 13. Public voting will determine the Fan Favorite Award.
The Grand Prize Winner will be selected separately by OTTO. Public voting does not determine the Grand Prize.
Winners Announced: September 16
The Grand Prize Winner and Fan Favorite will be announced on September 16.
The winning shirt is expected to make its debut in late September or early October.
Prizes
Grand Prize Winner
The Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- $500 cash
- A $250 OTTO Gift Card
- Production of the winning design as an official OTTO T-shirt
- An artist spotlight across OTTO marketing channels
- Five complimentary shirts featuring the winning design
Fan Favorite
The Fan Favorite will receive:
- A $250 OTTO Gift Card
- An artist spotlight
- One complimentary OTTO T-shirt
Top 10 Finalists
Each finalist will receive:
- Public recognition in finalist and contest content
- One complimentary OTTO T-shirt
If the Grand Prize Winner also receives the highest number of verified public votes, that artist will receive both awards and all associated prizes.
Ready to Create?
The submission period runs from July 29 through August 30. Before entering, please review the complete design requirements, eligibility information, prize details, and Official Terms & Conditions.
Then show us what OTTO looks like through your eyes.
