African Union Logo Design Competition 2027: Call for Young African Creatives to Design the Official AU Theme of the Year Visual Identity

Introduction

The African Union Commission has announced a call for entries inviting young African creatives to participate in the design of the official logo and visual identity for the African Union (AU) Theme of the Year 2027. This competition offers an opportunity for emerging designers and creative professionals across Africa to contribute their artistic talent, cultural perspectives, and innovative ideas to a continental initiative led by one of Africa’s most important regional institutions.

Through this call, the African Union is seeking creative concepts that can communicate the identity, purpose, and message of its 2027 Theme of the Year. The selected visual identity will represent the AU’s annual theme and provide a recognizable visual element for communicating the initiative across different platforms and audiences.

For young Africans working in graphic design, visual communication, illustration, branding, digital art, and related creative fields, the competition presents an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in an international institutional context. It also offers a platform for African talent to contribute to the way continental priorities are represented and communicated to citizens, institutions, and international audiences.

The announcement was published on the African Union’s official website on 24 September 2026. According to the announcement, entries must be submitted by 23 October 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3).

Applicants are encouraged to consult the official competition documents carefully to understand the required design deliverables, eligibility conditions, technical specifications, originality requirements, submission procedures, and selection criteria before preparing their entries.

1. Overview of the African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition

The African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition is a creative call designed to identify an appropriate logo and visual identity for the AU’s annual thematic initiative.

The African Union regularly uses its Theme of the Year to focus attention on important issues affecting the continent and to encourage collective action among member states, institutions, communities, and development partners. A strong visual identity helps communicate the theme consistently, making it easier for audiences to recognize related campaigns, events, publications, and communications materials.

By inviting young African creatives to participate in the design process, the African Union is creating an opportunity for emerging talent to contribute to continental communication and branding.

The competition is organized through the Information and Communication Directorate of the African Union Commission, which is responsible for the communication associated with the announcement.

Key details of the opportunity

• Opportunity: African Union Logo and Visual Identity Competition 2027.
• Organizing institution: African Union Commission.
• Responsible directorate: Information and Communication Directorate.
• Target audience: Young African creatives, subject to the eligibility conditions in the official terms of reference.
• Purpose: To select the official logo and visual identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.
• Announcement date: 24 September 2026.
• Submission deadline: 23 October 2026 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3).
• Official contact email: DIC@africanunion.org.
• Official competition documents: Available through the African Union’s event announcement.

Applicants should note that the full eligibility conditions, precise design specifications, submission format, and award arrangements must be confirmed in the official competition terms of reference.

2. Background and Purpose of the Competition

Visual communication is an important part of how institutions communicate their priorities, programes, and ambitions. A well-designed logo can make a complex subject easier to recognize, understand, and remember. It can also create a consistent identity that connects different activities taking place under the same initiative.

For the African Union, the Theme of the Year provides a framework for drawing attention to a particular continental priority. The associated logo and visual identity help establish a recognizable appearance for communications relating to that theme.

The 2027 competition invites young African creatives to contribute to this process by developing a visual representation that reflects the identity and purpose of the upcoming theme.

The call is particularly relevant to Africa’s growing creative economy, where young people are developing skills in graphic design, branding, digital communication, advertising, animation, illustration, and multimedia production.

By opening the design process to young creatives, the competition creates a potential connection between African talent and continental institutional communication. It also gives designers an opportunity to think beyond commercial branding and consider how visual elements can communicate shared priorities across different countries, languages, and communities.

Why the competition matters

The competition has several important dimensions.

Promoting African creative talent: It provides a platform through which young designers can demonstrate their creativity and technical abilities in response to a continental brief.

Strengthening visual communication: The selected logo and visual identity will help establish a consistent visual representation of the AU Theme of the Year 2027.

Encouraging African perspectives: Designers can draw on their knowledge of African societies, cultures, experiences, and aspirations when developing an appropriate visual concept, while ensuring that their work meets the official design brief.

Connecting creativity with public communication: The opportunity demonstrates how creative skills can contribute to the communication of institutional priorities and initiatives.

Encouraging professional development: Preparing a competition entry can help applicants practice working with a formal brief, developing design concepts, preparing presentation materials, and following technical requirements.

The competition should therefore be understood as more than a routine logo-design exercise. It is an opportunity to apply visual storytelling and design thinking to the communication needs of a continental institution.

3. Design Deliverables and Creative Direction

The central objective of the competition is to develop the official logo and visual identity for the African Union Theme of the Year 2027.

A visual identity is broader than a single graphic symbol. Depending on the requirements specified in the official terms of reference, it may include a primary logo, color choices, typography, supporting graphic elements, and guidance for consistent use across different communication materials.

However, applicants should not assume that every one of these elements is mandatory. The official competition documents determine exactly what must be submitted.

What should applicants consider when developing their concepts?

Although the detailed creative direction must be obtained from the official terms of reference, designers preparing for a competition of this nature should consider the following principles.

A. Clarity of the concept

A strong design should communicate its central idea clearly. The visual concept should be connected to the 2027 theme and should be understandable without requiring an excessively long explanation.

Applicants should be able to explain what their design represents, why particular visual elements were selected, and how the concept relates to the theme.

B. Originality and creativity

The competition calls for a design that can establish a distinctive identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027. Applicants should develop their own concepts rather than imitate existing logos, institutional symbols, or another designer’s work.

Originality is especially important because the selected design may be used to represent a continental initiative.

C. Relevance to Africa

Young African designers may draw inspiration from African experiences, knowledge systems, contemporary realities, shared aspirations, and cultural diversity where these elements are relevant to the brief.

Nevertheless, a strong design should avoid reducing Africa to a limited set of familiar symbols. The continent includes many countries, cultures, languages, communities, and perspectives. A thoughtful concept should communicate the intended message without relying on stereotypes.

D. Practical usability

An effective logo must remain recognizable in different settings. It may need to appear on websites, social media graphics, official documents, presentation slides, event banners, publications, and other communication materials.

Designers should therefore consider whether their concepts remain clear at different sizes and whether the main visual elements work across different backgrounds and formats.

E. Consistency across communication platforms

A visual identity should be capable of maintaining a consistent appearance across the platforms where the African Union communicates with its audiences.

The official brief should guide applicants on the required deliverables and the extent to which they need to demonstrate how their proposed identity can be applied.

Important: These points are general design considerations, not a substitute for the official creative brief. Applicants must follow the specific requirements in the AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference.

4. Who Is Eligible to Participate?

The announcement specifically invites young African creatives to submit entries. This establishes the competition’s focus on young African talent, but the precise eligibility conditions must be confirmed in the official terms of reference.

Before beginning work, prospective applicants should check the competition documents for any specific requirements concerning age, nationality, residence, individual or team participation, professional background, or other qualifying conditions.

Who should consider this opportunity?

The call may be particularly relevant to young Africans working or studying in areas such as:

• Graphic design and visual communication.
• Branding and corporate identity.
• Illustration and digital art.
• Advertising and creative communication.
• Multimedia production.
• Digital content creation.
• Design-related academic programes.
• Other creative disciplines relevant to logo design and visual identity.

These are examples of potentially relevant creative backgrounds, not a confirmed list of eligible professions.

Applicants should also verify whether the competition accepts submissions from students, emerging designers without formal qualifications, self-taught creatives, design collectives, or multidisciplinary teams.

What should prospective applicants verify?

Before submitting an entry, confirm the following in the official documents:

1. Whether there is a minimum or maximum age requirement.
2. Whether eligibility is limited to citizens of African Union member states or includes other categories.
3. Whether applicants must reside in Africa.
4. Whether individuals, teams, or organizations may participate.
5. Whether there are restrictions on previous professional experience.
6. Whether any declaration or consent form must accompany the submission.
7. Whether additional supporting documentation is required.

Checking these conditions in advance can prevent an otherwise strong design from being rejected for failing to meet the competition’s formal requirements.

5. Required Submission Package

The African Union’s event announcement identifies a section titled Required Submission Package in the competition information. This indicates that applicants should prepare their entries according to a defined set of submission requirements.

The exact list of mandatory materials is not reproduced in the supplied announcement. Therefore, applicants should consult the official terms of reference rather than rely on assumptions about which files or documents are required.

In preparing for the competition, applicants should pay close attention to the following areas.

Design files and presentation

Read the official instructions to determine the required design formats, file types, dimensions, resolution, and presentation arrangements.

If the terms of reference require several versions of a logo or supporting visual identity materials, ensure that every requested component is included.

Design rationale

Check whether applicants must provide a written explanation of the concept. If required, the explanation should describe the central idea, the relationship between the design and the 2027 theme, and the reasoning behind the main visual choices.

Applicant information

Confirm what personal or professional information must accompany the submission. Applicants should provide only the information requested through the official process and ensure that it is accurate.

Declaration and consent

The African Union’s event page lists an Applicant Declaration and Consent document in English and a corresponding French version.

Applicants should download the appropriate official document, read its contents, and complete it as instructed. They should pay particular attention to statements concerning authorship, consent, declarations, and the conditions of participation.

Final package review

Before submitting, compare the completed entry against the official checklist and confirm that no mandatory document, design file, signature, or other requested component is missing.

A creative concept may be strong, but administrative or technical omissions can still affect its acceptance.

6. Technical Requirements, Originality, and Artificial Intelligence

The official competition information contains a dedicated section addressing technical requirements, originality, and artificial intelligence (AI). This is an important part of the application process because it signals that applicants must pay attention not only to the appearance of their designs but also to how the work is produced and submitted.

The precise technical specifications and AI rules must be read directly in the official terms of reference.

Technical compliance

Applicants should verify all stated requirements concerning file formats, resolution, colour specifications, dimensions, naming conventions, and delivery methods.

If multiple files are required, each should be prepared and labelled according to the official instructions.

Designers should also confirm whether editable source files, preview images, or other supporting materials are required.

Originality and authorship

Applicants should develop concepts that they have the right to submit. They should avoid copying another designer’s work or incorporating protected material without the necessary permission.

Where stock graphics, fonts, photographs, illustrations, templates, or other third-party assets are used, applicants should check whether their use is permitted under the competition rules and whether the relevant licenses allow the intended institutional use.

The safest approach is to develop an original concept and retain evidence of the creative process, including sketches, drafts, and working files where appropriate.

Artificial intelligence requirements

Because the AU’s announcement explicitly identifies AI as a subject covered by the competition rules, applicants should read that section carefully before using generative AI tools.

They should not assume that AI-assisted designs are automatically permitted or prohibited. The official terms of reference determine what is allowed, whether disclosure is required, and whether any restrictions apply to AI-generated or AI-assisted elements.

Applicants who use AI tools in any part of their creative process should establish whether that use is compatible with the competition’s conditions before submitting their work.

Regardless of the tools used, applicants should ensure that their entries satisfy the requirements for originality, authorship, technical quality, and compliance with the official rules.

7. How to Submit an Entry

The African Union has provided an official event announcement containing information about the competition and links to supporting documents. Prospective applicants should use that announcement as the starting point for obtaining the complete instructions.

Step 1: Open the official competition announcement

Visit the African Union website and locate the announcement titled Call for Entries: Young African Creatives Invited to Design the Official Logo and Visual Identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.

The announcement was published on 24 September 2026.

Step 2: Download the terms of reference

Locate the document titled AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference EN or its French equivalent.

Read the document carefully to understand the creative brief, eligibility conditions, required deliverables, submission procedure, technical specifications, evaluation process, and award arrangements.

Step 3: Review the declaration and consent document

The event page also lists the Applicant Declaration and Consent document in English and French.

Read the appropriate version and complete it according to the official instructions.

Step 4: Develop the design concept

Use the official creative brief to develop an original concept that communicates the intended identity of the AU Theme of the Year 2027.

Consider how the concept will work visually, how it connects to the theme, and whether it can be used consistently across communication platforms.

Step 5: Prepare the required materials

Prepare all requested design files, explanations, declarations, and supporting documentation. Follow the specified file formats, naming conventions, and technical requirements.

Do not assume that a design image alone is sufficient if the terms of reference require additional materials.

Step 6: Check originality and AI compliance

Review the relevant provisions concerning intellectual property, third-party assets, originality, and artificial intelligence.

Make sure the proposed entry complies with the rules before submission.

Step 7: Follow the official submission procedure

Use the submission channel and instructions stated in the terms of reference.

The supplied announcement does not reproduce the exact submission link or method, so applicants should obtain these details directly from the official event page and its attached documents.

Step 8: Submit before the deadline

Ensure that the complete entry reaches the African Union through the prescribed channel by the closing time.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final minutes because technical difficulties, incomplete documents, or upload problems could prevent a successful submission.

To visit Official website click HERE.

8. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process

The official announcement includes a section titled Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process. This means applicants should consult the terms of reference to understand how submissions will be assessed and how the winning concept will be selected.

The supplied announcement does not provide the full scoring system, the names of the selection committee members, the number of finalists, or the weighting of individual criteria. These details should not be assumed.

Nevertheless, applicants preparing a professional design entry should ensure that their work is clearly presented and that they can explain how it responds to the official brief.

How to prepare a strong competition entry

The following recommendations are general design practices rather than confirmed AU scoring criteria.

Demonstrate a clear relationship to the theme. The concept should have an identifiable purpose and a convincing connection to the 2027 theme.

Prioritise visual clarity. The logo should be easy to recognise and should avoid unnecessary complexity.

Show originality. The design should have a distinctive identity and should not imitate existing visual marks.

Prepare a professional presentation. Present the concept in a clear and organised way, following the prescribed format.

Explain the design choices. Where a written rationale is requested, explain the meaning of the main elements and how they contribute to the overall message.

Follow every instruction. Meeting the formal submission requirements is as important as developing a visually appealing design.

Ultimately, applicants should use the official evaluation criteria as their primary guide rather than assuming that general design preferences reflect the AU’s actual scoring framework.

9. Award, Recognition, and Potential Professional Value

The African Union’s announcement includes a section titled Award and Recognition, indicating that the competition documents address what the selected designer or designers may receive.

However, the supplied announcement does not specify the monetary value of a prize, the number of winners, whether there will be runner-up awards, or whether certificates and other forms of recognition will be provided. Applicants should consult the official terms of reference for confirmed details.

Even before the award arrangements are known, the competition is relevant to young creatives seeking opportunities to demonstrate their work in a formal institutional setting.

Why the opportunity may be valuable for young designers

Portfolio development: Preparing a design for a major continental institution can give applicants a structured opportunity to demonstrate their creative thinking and technical abilities.

Experience responding to a formal brief: Competitions of this nature require designers to interpret instructions, develop a concept, and deliver work according to a defined purpose.

Professional presentation: The process can help applicants improve their ability to communicate the reasoning behind their design decisions.

Creative visibility: Participation may provide an opportunity to present original work through an official competition, although publication or wider exposure should not be assumed unless confirmed by the organisers.

Contribution to African communication: A successful entry could contribute to the visual communication of an AU initiative, subject to the final selection and the conditions stated in the competition documents.

Applicants should remember that these are potential professional benefits, not guarantees of employment, future contracts, financial awards, or additional opportunities.

10. Intellectual Property and Data Protection

The African Union’s announcement includes a dedicated section on Intellectual Property and Data Protection. This is particularly important because the competition involves submitting original creative work and personal information.

Designers should read this section before participating and understand the implications of submitting their concepts to the African Union Commission.

Intellectual property

Applicants should establish what rights they retain in their work and what rights, permissions, or usage arrangements apply to the selected design.

In particular, they should examine the official terms concerning ownership, licensing, reproduction, adaptation, publication, attribution, and the future use of submitted designs.

A designer should not assume that submitting a logo automatically transfers all intellectual property rights, nor should they assume that all rights remain with the designer. The actual position depends on the competition’s terms.

Use of third-party materials

If a design incorporates third-party material, applicants should check whether the relevant licences and permissions allow submission to the competition and any subsequent use anticipated by the official rules.

This consideration applies to visual assets, fonts, illustrations, templates, and other elements that may be incorporated into a logo or supporting presentation.

Personal data protection

Applicants should also read the provisions governing the collection, use, storage, and processing of personal information submitted during the competition.

They should provide accurate information, use the official submission channel, and avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information.

Understanding these provisions helps applicants make informed decisions before entering the competition and ensures that they are aware of their responsibilities and the conditions associated with participation.

11. Applicant Checklist: What to Do Before the Deadline

Young African creatives interested in the African Union Logo Competition 2027 can use the following checklist to organise their preparation.

• Locate the official African Union competition announcement.

• Download and read the English or French terms of reference.

• Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements.

• Read the official design brief and identify the required deliverables.

• Check the required file formats, dimensions, resolution, and naming conventions.

• Review the originality and artificial intelligence requirements.

• Read the intellectual property and data protection provisions.

• Download and complete the required Applicant Declaration and Consent document.

• Prepare the design concept and any required supporting materials.

• Check that all requested documents and files are included.

• Confirm the official submission channel and procedure.

• Submit the complete entry before 23 October 2026 at 23:59 EAT.

This checklist is intended to help applicants organise their work. It does not replace any mandatory instructions or additional requirements contained in the official terms of reference.

Official documents listed on the event page

The announcement identifies the following attachments:

1. AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference EN — the English version of the competition’s terms of reference.
2. AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference FR — the French version of the competition’s terms of reference.
3. Applicant Declaration and Consent_EN — the English applicant declaration and consent document.
4. Applicant Declaration and Consent_FR — the French applicant declaration and consent document.

Applicants should open the official event page to access the documents and verify the latest submission instructions.

For questions that are not answered in the published materials, prospective applicants can contact the Information and Communication Directorate at DIC@africanunion.org. Enquiries should be made sufficiently early to allow time for a response before the deadline.

13. Important Deadline: 23 October 2026

The submission deadline for the African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3).

This is the closing time specified in the competition announcement. Applicants should pay attention to the stated time zone when planning their submissions.

For applicants based in Zimbabwe, East Africa Time is one hour ahead of Zimbabwe’s local time. Therefore, the stated deadline corresponds to 22 October 2026 at 22:59 in Zimbabwe.

To avoid confusion, applicants should follow the deadline and time zone published by the African Union and aim to submit well before the closing time.

The competition announcement is dated 24 September 2026, giving prospective participants a limited period to review the terms of reference, develop an original design, prepare the required documents, and complete the submission process.

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Conclusion

The African Union Logo Competition 2027 is an opportunity for young African creatives to contribute their design skills to the official visual identity of the AU Theme of the Year 2027. By inviting creative talent to participate in a continental initiative, the African Union is providing a platform for designers to apply their knowledge of branding, visual storytelling, and communication to an institutional brief.

The opportunity is relevant to emerging graphic designers, illustrators, visual communicators, digital artists, and other creatives whose skills align with the competition requirements. It also offers a valuable exercise in interpreting a formal brief, developing an original concept, preparing professional design materials, and following established technical and administrative requirements.

However, prospective participants should not rely solely on summaries of the announcement. The official terms of reference are essential for confirming eligibility, required deliverables, submission procedures, AI restrictions, evaluation criteria, award arrangements, and intellectual property conditions.

The final deadline is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3). Young African creatives who are interested in participating should visit the official African Union website, download the competition documents, and begin preparing their entries as early as possible.

For Africa’s emerging creative community, this competition represents an opportunity to demonstrate that design is not only about creating attractive images. It is also about communicating ideas, expressing shared aspirations, and contributing to how important initiatives are understood and recognized across the continent.

Discover more opportunity like this on Opportunity for youth here.