Kitchen Samurai

T-shirt Design Competition terms

Last updated: 17 September 2026. All times are SAST (UTC+2).

1. Promoter

The competition is promoted by Kitchen Samurai (Kitchen Samurai PTY (Ltd)), Shop No. 5A4, Silo 5, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001 (the "Promoter"). Website: https://kitchensamurai.co.za.

2. Eligibility

The competition is open to South African residents aged 18 years or older. Professional, emerging, student and self-taught designers may enter. Employees of the Promoter, their immediate family members, and competition suppliers are not eligible. Entry is free.

3. Competition dates

Opens: 22 September 2026, 09:00 SAST
Submissions close: 23 October 2026 at 23:59 SAST
Public voting: 24 October 2026 to 29 October 2026 at 23:59 SAST
Winner announcement: 30 October 2026, SAST

4. Entry process

Entries must be submitted through the official form at https://competition.kitchensamurai.co.za/enter. Each design requires a separate submission. There is currently no numerical cap on the number of designs per person. Late, incomplete or unofficial entries will not be considered.

5. Originality

Every submission must be the entrant’s own original work, created for this competition in the entrant’s own artistic style. Third-party logos, anime characters, copyrighted imagery, stock artwork and copied illustrations are prohibited. Previous Kitchen Samurai artist collaborations are examples of finished merch, not style templates.

6. Prohibition of generative AI

Generative AI may not be used to create or materially alter any part of the submitted artwork. Conventional digital illustration and editing tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Procreate are permitted. The Promoter may request sketches, working files, layers, progress screenshots or time-lapse footage to verify originality.

7. Technical requirements

Designs may use a maximum of three print colours. The T-shirt colour does not count as one of those colours. Artwork must be suitable for garment printing. Photographic effects, complex gradients and details that cannot be reproduced reliably in print should be avoided. Maximum print dimensions will be confirmed with the printer and published before or during the competition. Initial entries require a JPG, PNG or PDF preview and a short concept description. Shortlisted entrants must supply editable AI, EPS, SVG or layered PSD files at full print size, with raster elements at a minimum of 300 DPI, fonts converted to outlines, layers retained, and a transparent background where applicable.

8. Judging

The Promoter will review eligible submissions and select a shortlist. After public voting identifies the top five designs, Kitchen Samurai staff will select the winner from those five. Staff judging criteria are: originality and artistic voice (30%); Kitchen Samurai brand fit (30%); wearability and commercial appeal (20%); and print suitability (20%).

9. Public voting

Public voting will take place between 24 October 2026 and 29 October 2026 at 23:59 SAST. Voting will be conducted through a separate public ballot published on the competition website. The public vote determines the top five designs only.

10. Vote manipulation

Suspicious, automated, bulk, incentivised or otherwise manipulated votes may be removed. The Promoter’s decision on the validity of votes is final.

11. Prize

The prize is two knives worth over R10,000. The prize is not a cash award and is not transferable except at the Promoter’s discretion. Product images and the final prize composition will be confirmed before the competition opens and may be substituted with items of equal or greater value.

12. Winner notification

The winner will be announced on 30 October 2026 and contacted using the details supplied on the entry form. If the winner cannot be reached or does not respond within a reasonable time specified in the notification, the Promoter may select another eligible design from the public’s top five.

13. Rights granted for non-winning entries

Entrants retain ownership of non-winning artwork. By entering, each entrant grants the Promoter a non-exclusive licence to display the submitted artwork for competition administration, promotion and public voting, with appropriate artist credit. This licence does not transfer ownership of non-winning designs to Kitchen Samurai.

14. Rights agreement for the winning design

The winning artist will enter into a separate written agreement granting Kitchen Samurai the exclusive rights required to manufacture, market and sell merchandise featuring the winning design. Completely new artwork or future commissions are not covered by this competition and would require a separate arrangement.

15. Artist credit

The winning artist will be credited as the artist behind the limited-edition design and may be featured in the product launch where appropriate. The artist may display the artwork in a personal portfolio.

16. Reasonable production alterations

Kitchen Samurai may make reasonable technical production adjustments to the winning artwork, including colour separation, sizing and placement, in consultation with the artist where practical.

17. Disqualification

The Promoter may disqualify entries that breach these terms, including ineligible persons, late submissions, generative AI use, third-party IP, incomplete materials, or vote manipulation. Disqualified work will not proceed to shortlisting or voting.

18. Privacy

Personal information is processed as described in the competition privacy notice.

19. Changes or cancellation

The Promoter may amend these terms, the brief, dates or technical specifications, or cancel the competition, where necessary for operational, legal or printing reasons. Material changes will be published on this website.

20. Liability

To the extent permitted by South African law, including the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Promoter is not liable for loss arising from technical failure of third-party forms, voting platforms, or circumstances beyond its reasonable control. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.

21. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Courts of South Africa have jurisdiction.

22. Contact