The MUSE Product & Packaging Illustration Awards is an international competition category recognizing outstanding illustration created for packaging, labels, products, merchandise, retail applications, limited editions, and other consumer-facing experiences.

Eligible illustrators, freelance artists, packaging and product illustrators, surface artists, studios, agencies, brand teams, independent creators, students, emerging illustrators, and other qualifying entrants worldwide may participate through the appropriate Professional or Emerging division.

Eligible work may include packaging illustration, label illustration, food and beverage packaging, beauty and cosmetic packaging, fashion and lifestyle products, surface applications, stationery, merchandise, limited editions, collectibles, and other qualifying product-facing illustration.

The category is intended for work where illustration forms a meaningful and defining part of the product, packaging, label, surface, or consumer-facing application. General packaging or product design without a substantial illustration component may be better suited to another competition or category.

Yes. Eligible packaging designers, branding agencies, design studios, creative agencies, and other qualifying teams may submit work where illustration forms a substantial part of the creative outcome and they have the necessary rights, authorization, or permission.

Yes. Eligible illustration applied to apparel, accessories, stationery, homeware, lifestyle goods, merchandise, and other consumer products may be submitted.

Yes. Eligible illustrated packaging and labels created for food, beverages, specialty goods, culinary products, and related consumer applications may be submitted.

Yes. Eligible illustrated packaging created for cosmetics, skincare, wellness, personal care, fashion, and lifestyle products may be submitted.

Yes. Eligible limited releases, artist collaborations, seasonal editions, gift sets, exclusive merchandise, and collectible product applications may be submitted.

Yes. A standalone illustrated product, package, label, or consumer-facing application may be submitted as one entry.

Yes. A cohesive body of work may be submitted as one entry where the applications share a clear product range, collection, campaign, visual language, brand, concept, or creative relationship.

Yes. Eligible unpublished, conceptual, speculative, personal, and self-initiated product or packaging illustration may be submitted where it meets the official competition requirements.

Yes. A work or cohesive project may be entered into multiple relevant categories. Each category submission is treated as a separate entry and requires the applicable entry fee or one eligible entry credit.

Yes. The MUSE Illustration Awards welcomes eligible entries from around the world.

The MUSE Illustration Awards recognizes illustration in which the entrant demonstrates meaningful creative authorship and artistic contribution. AI-assisted tools may be used where permitted, but entrants must disclose any material use of generative AI during the submission process.

Fully AI-generated work created primarily through prompting, without substantial human artistic development or transformation, is not eligible within the main illustration categories.

Entrants remain responsible for the originality, authorship, rights, permissions, and accuracy of all information associated with submitted work.

Entries are evaluated across Creativity & Originality, Concept & Visual Identity, Artistic Craft & Execution, Application & Audience Impact, and Context & Relevance, with consideration given to the work’s originality, visual identity, artistic execution, application, audience, and product or packaging context.