City Seal Design Contest

City of Palm Desert - Call for Submissions

Help Shape the Future of Palm Desert's Identity Through Design! Calling all graphic design students! Reimagine Palm Desert's future by designing a bold, modern city seal. This is your opportunity to contribute to the visual legacy of a thriving desert community.

Eligibility

Open to currently enrolled or recently graduated graphic design students (within the last 2 years), age 16 or older, who reside in Southern California.

About the Project

The original City Seal, created in 1973, symbolized Palm Desert's early identity. Today, the City is seeking a design that reflects our growth, culture, and modern vision. This project invites the next generation of designers to create a refreshed emblem-one that is simple, clear, and enduring, and that can represent Palm Desert for the next 50 years.
As the City's official government graphic identity, the selected seal may appear on official documents, signage, digital platforms, and more. This seal is distinct from the City's tourism brand identity, which is represented by Discover Palm Desert.

About Palm Desert

We invite you to draw inspiration from Palm Desert's natural surroundings, architecture, and vibrant artistic culture. The following points are offered as a starting place. Successful entries will thoughtfully interpret and curate imagery that reflects the City's unique identity. Here's just some of what makes Palm Desert iconic:

• Desert Landscape: Expansive sandy terrain with earthy tones and native desert plants like creosote, mesquite, and palo verde.
• Palm Trees: Iconic date palms and fan palms line streets like El Paseo and San Pablo.
• Mountain Backdrop: The dramatic San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains rise along the horizon with rocky textures and shifting shadows throughout the day.
• Mid-Century Architecture: Clean lines, geometric pattens, breeze block walls, and retro design elements.
• Nature: native flora like agave, barrel cactus, and ocotillo thrive here.
• Color Palette: Natural desert hues contrasted by vibrant plant and sky tones.
• Resort Atmosphere: Relaxed but refined, with golf courses and stylish signage.

Submission Requirements

• Brief, one-paragraph artist statement
• Design Submissions - Up to 3 original designs:
• Format: .JPG or .PNG (vector art preferred)
• Size: 5" x 5" (under 1MB each)
• Submit in both color and black & white
• Legal Design Elements - Must include:
• Design must be circular
• 'City of Palm Desert' (official city name)
• 'Incorporated 1973' or simply '1973'
• References - Provide 2 references (Name, Title, Organization, Phone, Email)
• Email submissions to [email protected] by August 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST

Selection Process

All eligible entrants will be listed by name on the City's website. Up to three finalists will each receive a $500 honorarium and the opportunity to refine their design with input from City staff and a Steering Committee of the industry's top graphic designers and creative directors.
Designs will be evaluated on:

• Clear visual representation of Palm Desert's character.
• Originality and design merit.
• Effectiveness in both color and black and white.
• Clarity and impact at various sizes.
• Inclusion of all required design elements.

Final Deliverables

Finalists must submit:

• High-resolution, print-ready vector files (.AI or .EPS)
• Color codes (Pantone, CMYK, or HEX)

Honorarium

The selected artist will receive $10,000 upon final approval of the design.

Timeline

• Release Call: June 24, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST
• Steering Committee Review: Aug 26 - Sept 2, 2025
• Round 2 Finalist Review: Sept 16 - 19, 2025
• Community Survey: Sep 19 - Oct 17, 2025
• City Council Approval: Nov 13, 2025
• Artist Agreement Finalized: November 2025

Questions?

Contact Erica Powell at 760-776-6346 or [email protected]

Disclaimer: Final artwork becomes the property of The City of Palm Desert, which reserves all rights for reproduction and use. The City of Palm Desert reserves the right to modify this call, reject any or all proposals, and re-open the competition if needed.