Design Madness is a fast-paced, community-driven competition where eight designers compete head-to-head across three creative challenges. I took part in the second annual event hosted by Circles + Co in March 2026 and won the championship.
3-DAY CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
thu
QUARTER-FINALS • MARCH 26
poster design
We'll give you a theme, and you'll create a custom poster based on it. You'll have from Thursday 8AM to 10PM CDT.
Judged on:
Composition, Concept, and Style
fri
SEMI-FINALS • MARCH 27
homepage design
We'll provide a business name and description. You'll design a homepage layout. You'll have from Friday 8AM to 10PM CDT.
Judged on:
Creativity, Hierarchy, and UX
mon
CHAMPIONSHIP • MARCH 28-30
brand buildout
We'll give you a startup business idea. You'll have from Saturday 8AM to Monday 5PM CDT.
Judged on:
Business Brand Name, Tagline, and Logo
Each matchup will take on a crime thriller movie poster challenge, where they'll bring a fictional film to life through design. From concept to composition, this round is all about creating something bold, cinematic, and memorable under pressure.
My Matchup's Prompt
Film Name: Dead Air
Film Vibe: late-night radio station thriller where a host starts receiving calls from someone who knows too much.
Inspiration: Think Nightcrawler meets Zodiac.
Poster Focus: Dark tones, minimal lighting, suspenseful composition, strong typography.
Challenge: Build tension and mystery using as little as possible.
Each matchup will create a landing page for new local businesses. From concept to composition, this round is all about being creative, establishing clear hierarchy, and demonstrating superb user experience.
My Matchup's Prompt
Business Name: Pulse Fitness
Description: Pulse Fitness is a luxury fitness club that offers memberships, personalized training, and elite performance.
Vibe: Think Nike meets Boutique. High contrast, movement, and energy.
Features: Membership options, class sign-ups, showcase the facilities.
Using the given start-up idea, this final matchup must build an entire brand system. From concept to composition, this round is all about being strategy, creativity, and execution.
My Matchup's Prompt
Brand Focus: AI-powered productivity and workflow automation
Description: [Name] is a next-generation platform that helps individuals and teams automate repetitive tasks, organize ideas, and streamline workflows using artificial intelligence. From content generation to task management, [Name] acts as a central hub to help users think faster, work smarter, and stay focused.
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, creatives, and teams who want to optimize their workflow, save time, and increase productivity using AI.
Deliver: Brand name (Create a modern, tech-forward, and ownable name), Tagline (Clear, confident, and future-focused), and Logo (Visual style should reflect innovation, intelligence, and simplicity)
Design Vibe: Clean, modern, and minimal. Think sleek UI, subtle gradients, sharp typography, and a balance of simplicity and innovation. Should feel like a real SaaS product.
Challenge: Create a brand that feels cutting-edge and trustworthy while standing out in a crowded AI space.
More Projects
A collection of recent work spanning branding, digital design, and creative direction.
