About the Competition

Date and Location

Friday,  April 4, 2025

In the Atrium at 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130

To plan for your trip to 440 North Broad Street, visit the Chief of Schools' school trip guidelines web page.

Eligibility

State categories

Participation is open to:

• students in grades 6-12

  • in a public school, charter school, private school or parochial school within the boundaries of Philadelphia.

  • in a homebound or approved home-schooled student residing in the City of Philadelphia.

School District of Philadelphia only categories

Participation is open to:

• students in grades 3-5

  • enrolled in a School District of Philadelphia public school.

Copyright Requirements

The Philadelphia Regional Media and Design Competition, although educational, removes the student work from the classroom and therefore requires the student to get permission from the owner to use any copyrighted music, video, graphics, etc. Fair use does NOT apply. Remember to credit music or items that were created by yourself or friends as well.

Display boards or other items that are included with, but not part of, the project may not contain copyrighted material. Display boards are not judged for appearance, however, they will be inspected and can cause the project to be disqualified if copyrighted material is found.

The Copyright Sign off form, Project Narrative/Summary, and Photo Release form must be combined into one file for your convenience (Computer Fair Participation Packet). This completed packet MUST accompany every project. Click here to download.

Hardware / Software and other important Rules

• All hardware and software will be provided by the student or school for the competition.

• Internet connections will be provided at the competition.

• Each project must have its own computer, if one is required for that category. No projects will share a single computer at the state competition.

• Each project may bring only one computer.

• At the competition, students must provide a power strip for their computer. Extension cords will be provided.

• The logo and graphic design categories will not be allowed to bring a computer or have access to electric at the state fair. 

  • Students must use a computer to develop their project, but only the end product and a descriptive narrative of the project development will be displayed.

• 3D graphics must be in print form to be eligible.

• Digital movie projects may bring a single computer.

• Displays and monitors must not exceed 24 inches.

• Space will be assigned and limited to 3 square feet per project.

• Narrative descriptions are required for all projects in all categories. 

  • Narratives must be detailed to provide judges with information to fairly judge the project.

Judging

• Preliminary judging: a minimum of two judges will view the project to determine a group of finalists.

• Final judging: All judges will view each of the finalists projects and may require the students to answer questions.

• Judges may not have a direct association with the participants.

• Judges' decisions are final.

Registration

All Middle and High School Participants must register online at https://mediadesigncompetition.org/

• Registration opens on December 2nd and cccccbieilcclblufnvcerhgngctrhetgibrejkveggh

• will be open until March 7, 2025. 

• Students may participate individually or as a group. A student may submit an individual project and take part in a group project, however the projects cannot be in the same category.

• Groups can be no larger than 3 students.  Any group with more than 3 students will be disqualified.

• A faculty advisor/sponsor must be identified. The faculty advisor/sponsor will be responsible for accompanying students during competitions.

• All communication will be provided through the faculty advisor/sponsor.

• Students with 1st place winning projects will be eligible to represent Philadelphia as a competitor at the PA State Media and Design Competition held in May at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA.

All Elementary School Participants (grades 3-5) must register online at https://tinyurl.com/MDCReg

• Registration opens on December 2nd and will be open until March 7, 2025. 

• Students may participate individually or as a group. A student may submit an individual project and take part in a group project, however the projects cannot be in the same category.

• Schools can only register up to six (6) projects, two (2) projects per category for students in grades 3-5.  Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place but projects are not eligible for the state competition.

• Groups can be no larger than 3 students.  Any group with more than 3 students will be disqualified.

• A faculty advisor/sponsor must be identified. The faculty advisor/sponsor will be responsible for accompanying students during competitions.

• All communication will be provided through the faculty advisor/sponsor.