Antalis has launched The Cut, a new nationwide student graphic design competition designed to champion emerging talent and inspire the next generation of designers working with print.
Antalis has announced the launch of The Cut. The company created this new nationwide student graphic design competition to champion young talent and inspire the next generation of designers working with print.
The Cut invites students on graphic design, illustration, and related academic courses to respond to a real-world brief. The competition aims to showcase what is possible when strong ideas meet the right choice of materials. The contest is open to students across the UK and Ireland and is completely free to enter.
Antalis designed the initiative specifically with the print and design community in mind. The company states that The Cut aims to spotlight emerging talent in graphic design, illustration, and typography. Furthermore, the programme seeks to encourage the creative use of print and papers while connecting education with industry. This approach gives students a platform to be seen by agencies, studios, printers, and brands.
Katie Farr is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Antalis. She comments on the launch. “With The Cut, we want to give students a genuine industry‑style brief that encourages them to think about design, paper choice and production together,” Farr says. “We’re passionate about print as a creative medium, and this competition is about recognising the next wave of designers who are using it in bold and intelligent ways.”
Entrants to The Cut will face the challenge of creating an original piece of graphic design for the 2027 Antalis calendar production. Students will draw on the Creative Power range and the extensive portfolio of creative papers offered by Antalis. The brief focuses on developing a strong concept that reflects the paper choice and delivers high-quality execution. Judges will also look for an understanding of how materials, finishing, and format contribute to the final printed result.
Antalis has a long history of supporting education through university workshops, talks, and its involvement in Brief Cases luxury packaging projects. The business views The Cut as the next step in that commitment, reflecting the evolving role of print in branding, design, and creativity.
Farr adds to her previous statement. “The Cut is about more than a single piece of work,” she states. “It’s about helping students see how considered paper choices can add depth, tactility and emotion to their ideas, and giving them the confidence to bring those ideas into professional practice.”
The company will announce the winning work on 19th October 2026. Antalis will then publish the successful designs later that year in its 2027 calendar. The manufacturer encourages tutors and course leaders to integrate The Cut into live project work to give students a real-world context and a direct connection to the print and design industry.