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Kitchen Samurai presents
Calling all South African artists, illustrators, designers, students and self-taught creatives. Bring your own artistic style to the Kitchen Samurai world and stand a chance to win two knives worth over R10,000.
Expected asset filename: competition-hero.jpgCompetition opens 22 September 2026, 09:00 SAST
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Timeline
22 September, 09:00
23 October
24 October
29 October
30 October
The prize
This is not a cash prize.
To be confirmed
To be confirmed
How to enter
Read the creative and technical brief.
Create your original design.
Prepare your preview and concept description.
Submit everything through the official entry form before the deadline.
The creative brief
We’re looking for original South African artwork that captures the energy, precision and personality of Kitchen Samurai. Interpret the brand through your own visual language. Bold, understated, strange, traditional or completely unexpected. We want to see your style.
This is wearable artwork, not another logo treatment. The winning design will be released as a limited Kitchen Samurai merch drop.
01
Create a new piece for this competition. No third-party characters, stock, logos or copied illustrations.
02
Bring the style you already have. We are not looking for an imitation of a previous collaboration.
03
Design for a garment: strong at a glance, comfortable on the body, and viable for print.
Brand assets
Download the official lockups for use in your design files. The Kitchen Samurai logo is optional. Include it only if it serves the artwork.
Please use these files rather than redrawing, stretching or recreating the mark.
Previous artist collaboration
Kitchen Samurai previously collaborated with Gerhard Human to turn an original illustration into a memorable merch release. That drop is an example of how an artist’s work can move from page to fabric.
This is not a style template. We want to see your own creative voice.
Before you start
South African residents, 18 or older. Professional, emerging, student and self-taught designers are welcome. Entry is free. Kitchen Samurai employees, immediate family and competition suppliers may not enter.
You may submit more than one design; each needs its own form. Every submission must be your own original work.
Maximum of 3 print colours. The T-shirt colour does not count. Keep it print-ready: no photographic effects, complex gradients or details that will not reproduce. Maximum print dimensions still to be confirmed with the printer.
Selection and voting
Kitchen Samurai reviews all eligible submissions and selects a shortlist.
The public votes to determine the top five designs.
Kitchen Samurai staff select the final winner from the public’s top five.
Suspicious, automated or manipulated votes may be removed. The public vote determines the top five; Kitchen Samurai staff select the winner from those five.
FAQ
South African residents aged 18 or older may enter. Professional, emerging, student and self-taught designers are welcome. Kitchen Samurai employees, their immediate family members and competition suppliers may not enter.
Yes. You may submit more than one design, but each design must be submitted separately through the official form.
No. Generative AI may not be used to create or materially alter any part of the submitted artwork. Kitchen Samurai may request working files or process evidence to verify originality.
No. The Kitchen Samurai logo is optional. Official PNG, JPG, PDF and Illustrator files are available to download from this site if you want to include the mark. Focus on original artwork inspired by the brand rather than reproducing the logo.
You may use a maximum of three print colours. The T-shirt colour itself does not count as one of those three colours.
You retain ownership of non-winning artwork. Kitchen Samurai may display submitted work for administering, promoting and running the competition, with artist credit. The winning artist will sign a separate agreement covering the exclusive rights needed to produce and sell merchandise featuring the winning design. Kitchen Samurai does not own every submitted design.
No. Entry is free.
Yes. Conventional digital illustration and editing tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Procreate are permitted.
No. The initial entry is a JPG, PNG or PDF preview, a short concept explanation, and an optional mockup or portfolio link. Shortlisted artists will later be asked for editable, print-ready files.
No. Third-party logos, anime characters, copyrighted imagery, stock artwork and copied illustrations are not allowed. The work must be your own original creation.
Kitchen Samurai will review eligible submissions and select a shortlist. The public then votes to determine the top five designs. Kitchen Samurai staff choose the winner from that top five.
A voting link will be published during the public voting window (24–29 October 2026, SAST). Suspicious, automated or manipulated votes may be removed. The public vote determines the top five; it does not automatically choose the overall winner.
You will work with Kitchen Samurai on reasonable production refinements, be credited as the artist, and receive two knives worth over R10,000 plus a printed T-shirt. Completely new artwork or future commissions are separate from this competition.
The winner will be announced on 30 October 2026.
Your art. Our knives. One limited drop.
Original work only. Generative AI is not permitted.
