Michigan Central is inviting the next generation of creative thinkers to step into the spotlight with a new opportunity just for kids: the Girls Summit Poster Design Contest. 

The contest calls on young artists and designers to create the official poster for Girls Summit, Michigan Central’s one-day STEM and arts event for girls happening March 14, 2026, at Newlab at Michigan Central.

Girls Summit brings together science, technology, engineering, math and art in one immersive day of exploration. Students participate in hands-on workshops, meet inspiring mentors, build projects and discover how creativity connects every part of STEM. It’s a place where coding can become visual art, mathematical patterns turn into striking designs and robotics demands both technical skill and imaginative thinking.

The poster design contest asks students to capture that spirit in a single, powerful image—something bold, colorful and welcoming that makes girls excited to register. Michigan Central is looking for artwork that reflects discovery, experimentation and those unforgettable “aha!” moments, with girls actively engaged in STEM and arts activities. Contemporary illustration styles, visual mashups of circuits and color, or math becoming pattern are all encouraged, as long as the final design feels energetic, inclusive and inspiring for middle and high school-age audiences.

The stakes are high in the best possible way. The student whose design is selected for first place will receive a $1,000 prize, with $500 for second place and $250 for third place. Just as exciting, the winning artwork will be seen across Detroit—on posters, in schools, around the Michigan Central campus, on social media and in digital promotions for the event. For a young artist, it’s a chance not only to win a major prize, but also to build a real-world design portfolio piece before high school.

To keep the process professional and print-ready, submissions must follow a few technical guidelines. Posters should be designed in portrait orientation at 18 by 24 inches, saved as a PDF, JPG or PNG file at 300 dpi, and be no larger than 25 MB. The design should work well in full color and be flexible enough to adapt for other formats like digital displays, flyers and social posts. Each poster must include the event name, Girls Summit; an original tagline created by the student; the date, March 14, 2026; and the location, Newlab at Michigan Central. Students may choose to include the Michigan Central logo, or it can be added later to the winning design.

The contest is open to elementary and middle school students under age 14. To keep the process fair, students whose immediate family members living in the same household work for Michigan Central or Ford Motor Company are not eligible to enter. All artwork must be completely original—no tracing, copying or using images the student doesn’t have rights to use. If a student wins, Michigan Central will receive the rights to use the design to promote Girls Summit, including making small adjustments for different formats and future events, while the artist keeps the right to showcase the work in their portfolio and be credited as the designer.

Entries will be judged by Michigan Central based on visual impact, creativity, relevance to the event, inclusivity and how clearly the poster communicates what Girls Summit is all about. The decision of the judges will be final. Prize winners and their families should be aware that they are responsible for any taxes related to the prize money.

The Girls Summit Poster Design Contest opens November 24, 2025, with a submission deadline of December 19, 2025. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2026. Students can submit their designs through the online form, and families or teachers with questions about the contest, technical requirements or rules can email [email protected] with “Poster Contest Question” in the subject line.

For creative kids who love to draw, design, experiment or imagine new worlds, this contest is a chance to be seen—and to help shape the look and feel of an event designed to inspire the next generation of girls in STEM and the arts.