Your artwork could become a shirt worn by supporters around the world. Maddie’s Spark Foundation invites families, students, artists, and supporters to enter our Design the Spark T-Shirt Design Contest for Rare Disease Day 2027. Create an original design that celebrates VLCAD warriors and shares a message of hope, strength, inclusion, or community. You don’t need to be a professional designer. We welcome creative ideas from people of all ages. Our board will select three winning designs to be sold through the Maddie’s Spark Bonfire Store, with international shipping wherever Bonfire delivers.
100% of the proceeds Maddie’s Spark Foundation receives from this collection will support VLCAD deficiency research at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Important Contest Dates
December 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM: Deadline to submit your form and t-shirt design
Week of January 1, 2027: Winning designs announced and 2027 Rare Disease Day t-shirt designs available for purchase
Prizes for the Top Three Designs
First Place: $50 USD + one shirt featuring your winning design
Second Place: $25 USD + one shirt featuring your winning design
Third Place: $10 USD + one shirt featuring your winning design
All three winning designs will be available for supporters to purchase through the Maddie’s Spark Bonfire Store.
Who Can Enter?
The contest is free to enter and open to artists of all ages, including participants outside the United States.
Whether you live with VLCAD, love someone who does, or simply want to support rare disease research, we’d love to see your ideas.
Each artist may submit up to two designs.
Complete a separate entry form for each design.
Each artist may receive only one prize.
No purchase or donation is required to participate.
What Should Your Design Include?
Create an original front-of-shirt design that connects VLCAD awareness with the spirit of Rare Disease Day. Your design must:
Include “VLCAD” somewhere in the artwork.
Share an encouraging message that celebrates the VLCAD community.
Be suitable for children and adults to wear, and use clear lettering and details that will reproduce well on a shirt.
Include only artwork, fonts, and graphic elements you have permission to reproduce and sell.
You may incorporate Be the Spark, zebra stripes, or themes of hope, strength, kindness, inclusion, and being rare. These are optional creative directions. We want to see your interpretation. We recommend one to three ink colors and a simple, readable design. You do not need to include “2027,” so your shirt can continue raising awareness throughout the year.
How to Submit Your Design
Create your artwork.
Prepare a clear PNG, JPG, or PDF of the design itself. You may also include a shirt mockup, but a mockup should not be your only submission.
Complete the entry form below and upload your design.
Tell us about the artist, your design, and what inspired it. Review and agree to the Artist Submission and Consent to Participate terms.
Digital and Hand-Drawn Artwork Are Welcome. You may create your design digitally or draw it by hand. Selected hand-drawn artwork may need to be digitized or simplified for printing. Design software is welcome, but AI-generated artwork is not eligible. Please do not include copied designs, unauthorized characters, or other organizations’ logos.
Maddie’s Spark Foundation’s Rare Disease Day 2027
T-Shirt Design Contest Submission Form
Deadline to submit your form and your t-shirt design is December 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM eastern standard time.