Every 2 weeks Dreadlabs will send out a design brief for a self-contained project in the Discord server. Everyone can join in on these challenges and create something based on the briefing. I, Tom, will try to livestream weekly to join in on the challenges and also to give feedback on your work if you join in. I will also pick a winner each week that receives a gift card for the Dreadlabs asset webstore.
The winners will be picked on the Discord server, where you can also submit your work.
Create a one-page zine containing anything that interests you. The zine can be about a cause you find important, illustrations or designs you’ve made, an interesting poem, basically anything. To inspire you, I highly recommend checking out this video. I highly recommend that you actually print your zine, because printing work is a rewarding thing in itself!
Another zine YouTuber worth checking out is Brattyxbre. Happy printing!
Deadline: March 1st 2025
An evil corporation (the ones you would see in movies) approached you to come up with their name and logo. They also ask you to design a keycard for them so people can use it to get access to their ominous building. (and a heads up, they will in fact not pay you)
Deadline: February 15th 2026
What if your favorite artist was turned into a videogame? Would it be a 3D character, pixel art or something else? Try to design either the video game box art, level design, anything to bring your favorite artist alive (except not alive, but as a video game character).
Deadline: February 1st 2025
A label called Acid Lab (or your favorite underground electronic music label) wants to have a new template sticker designed for their forthcoming releases on Vinyl. This design has to be altered per release so that the artist name and record names can be changed per release. They want the sticker to be recognizable but slightly altered per release, so you know it’s from the same label even though each sticker looks slightly different. To give you some inspo:
https://mamama-paris.com/products/acid-records
Deadline: January 18th 2025
Design a poster to remind yourself of your new years resolutions (if you don’t have any you can resort to a workout routine or a guide to help you create more). You can make it look as cool as you’d like, but it has to have a function to help you with your new years resolutions. Whether that’s a guide for a routine, a reminder to think of something or anything else.
Deadline: January 4th 2025
Design a wrapper for a candy bar that you can give others during the holidays. You can be creative when it comes to style, but try to design it so that it will be a sick gift to someone else within our design community.
Deadline: December 21st 2025
Also, happy holidays everyone! I hope you get to spend some warm days together with loved ones. If you ever feel lonely, feel free to send me a message on Discord, or join the Discord server. Know that you’re not alone.
Create a flyer for an electronic music event using these 5 colors. Feel free to use your favorite electronic artists and venue for the lineup. Note: You don’t have to exclusively use these 5 colors in the flyer. Feel free to use them as gradients, add textures or apply them to photos.
If you don’t have some you can use these:
Date: Saturday January 3rd 2026
Venue: Club Smederij
Location: City of Tilburg, the Netherlands
Line-up: Objekt, Aloka, False Persona, Pearson Sound, Mor Elian
Deadline: November 23rd 2025
Nike is releasing a collection inspired by the Gabber Culture of the 90’s in the Netherlands and is asking you, even if you’re a non-dutchie (or a non-gabber dutchie like me) to deliver a couple of concept visuals. Immerse yourself in Gabber culture and visuals and see if you can cook up ideas for their collection.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a shoe, clothing or accessories. Make sure to present your concepts in a fitting way, like a poster, slideshow or video.
Keep in mind that concept visuals can also be a moodboard of some sorts, so don’t feel forced to learn yourself 3D software in order to model a shoe. This exercise is mostly to get better at art direction and editorial design.
Deadline: November 9th 2025
