Design a License Plate that Saves Lives!
We’re looking for Arizona teenagers to help create our new Teen Lifeline Arizona Specialty License Plate.
The winning submission will be used as the design concept to create a new Specialty License Plate that Arizona drivers can select as the license plate on their vehicles.
Imagine seeing your artwork on the backs of the cars you see on the road every day! Plus, the winner will receive a $500 gift card, be featured in Teen Lifeline social media posts and profiled in a news release!
Edit: The design contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated—there were so many impressive, creative designs! Winners were announced in July 2024.
Congrats Winners!
We’re excited to officially announce the winners of our Teen Suicide Awareness License Plate Design Contest! With over 80 submissions, it was difficult to pick only three winners. In the end, we felt that these three teens best captured the spirit of teen suicide prevention in their designs:
1st Place: Trevor Owens (Show Low High School)
2nd Place: Chloe Patterson (Corona Del Sol High School)
3rd Place: Daniela Garay (Peoria High School)
Congrats Winners!
We’re excited to officially announce the winners of our Teen Suicide Awareness License Plate Design Contest! With over 80 submissions, it was difficult to pick only three winners. In the end, we felt that these three teens best captured the spirit of teen suicide prevention in their designs:
1st Place: Trevor Owens (Show Low High School)
2nd Place: Chloe Patterson (Corona Del Sol High School)
3rd Place: Daniela Garay (Peoria High School)
Design Rules
You can view the entire gallery of Arizona Specialty License Plates to give you an idea about the images, messages and colors that are currently available to registered drivers by clicking here: https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/vehicle-services/plates-and-placards/plate-selections. Looking through the currently available specialty license plates may help inspire your design!
Design entries must follow the license plate design guidelines. For a design to be considered, it must:
- Be submitted in .ai, .psd, .jpeg, .png, or PDF format
- NOT use the color red in the design
- Include a phrase like: “You’re Not Alone” or “There is Hope” at the bottom or top of the license plate
A few other things to keep in mind. First, you’re welcome, but not required, to use the Teen Lifeline logo and Teen Lifeline colors in your design. If you want to include the logo, you can find it here.
Brand Colors
Our brand colors are:
- Green (#94a545 | C:47, M:22, Y:93 , K:2)
- Blue (#009dba | C:79, M:20, Y:21, K:0)
- Purple (#9a9ccd | C:40, M:36, Y:0, K:0)
- Orange (#ce7019 | C:16, M:64, Y:100, K:3)
Common accent colors:
- Dark Blue (#372c75 | C:96, M:100, Y:20, K:8)
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Teal (#24bec9 | C:69, M:0, Y:24, K:0)
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Purple (#562d89 | C:83, M:100, Y:6, K:1)
- True Black (#060808 | C:75, M:68, Y:76, K:90)
Setting Up Your Artwork
LINKS: Download Design Template! | Review Arizona Department of Transportation’s Design Rules
- Canvas Size: 12 inches wide by 6 inches tall
- Canvas Resolution: 300 DPI minimum, CMYK
- File Format: Accepted formats include any vector-based files (like Illustrator .ai files), Photoshop .psd files, .png, .jpeg, and .pdf
- If you don’t have access to Adobe Photoshop, you can open Photoshop files (such as our design template) in free alternatives like Photopea and FireAlpaca.
- Font: Text must be in a sans serif font. Bolded/thick fonts are preferred.
- Fonts Teen Lifeline commonly uses (click for download links): Insignia, Poppins, Montserrat, Proxima Nova, More Sugar
- Logo: Logo must be on the right side of the plate. Ensure the Teen Lifeline logo is within 0 inches to 2.887 inches of the right side of the plate.
- Contrast: If your background is dark, use light text; if it’s light, use dark text. You can check how readable your text is with this Contrast Checker. You want a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or above.
- Hotline Information: If you choose to include our hotline number, please use this number: 602-248-8336.
- Graphics must not interfere with the legibility of the plate ID number. This means no text is allowed in the center of the plate.
- Simple, bold graphics do best on license plates. Keep in mind, people usually see license plates from a distance! When creating your design, try looking at it from 10 feet away to make sure your details are visible enough.
- You can submit up to 4 different designs for consideration.
Teen Lifeline may contact you via email if your design needs to be corrected to fit the design requirements. If you have questions, please email Impact Communications Lead Specialist Elizabeth Hansen at elizabeth@teenlifeline.org. Include “License Plate Design Contest” in your email subject.
The top three entries will receive recognition and prizes!
- 1st place: $500 gift card
- 2nd place: $250 gift card
- 3rd place: $100 gift card
In addition, the artist of the design chosen for Teen Lifeline’s specialty license plate will:
- Be featured in a Teen Lifeline news release and social media posts
- Have the satisfaction of creating a design that will be displayed on thousands of vehicles throughout Arizona for years to come in support of teen suicide prevention
FAQ
The Teen Lifeline Specialty License Plate should remind teens they are not alone, demonstrate that people in the community care about them and inspire teens to seek help when it is needed. We know showing teens they have support from their peers, parents and their community can make a significant difference in providing hope for those who are struggling with sadness, depression or suicidal thoughts.
So, please send us your most creative artistic ideas to convey hope to the nearly 1 million teenagers in Arizona.
Arizona teens 19 years old or younger are eligible to enter. If you’re under 18, you’ll need a signature from a parent or guardian giving you permission to participate.
Did you create multiple designs and can’t decide which one you like best? You can enter up to four design concepts for consideration.
You can view the entire gallery of Arizona Specialty License Plates to give you an idea about the images, messages and colors that are currently available to registered drivers by clicking here: https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/vehicle-services/plates-and-placards/plate-selections
Design entries must follow the license plate design guidelines. For a design to be considered, it must:
- Be submitted in .ai, .psd, .jpeg or PDF format
- NOT use the color red in the design
- Include a phrase like: “You’re Not Alone” or “There is Hope” at the bottom or top of the license plate
A few other things to keep in mind. First, you’re welcome, but not required, to use the Teen Lifeline logo and Teen Lifeline colors in your design. If you want to include the logo, you can find it here.
Our brand colors are:
- Green (#94a545)
- Blue (#009dba)
- Purple (#9a9ccd)
- Orange (#ce7019)
All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2024.
Simply design your license plate on the template provided and submit your original artwork and submission form electronically at teenlifeline.org/design-submission-form.
Please email Impact Communications Lead Elizabeth Hansen at elizabeth@teenlifeline.org.
The winning submission will be chosen by a committee of Teen Lifeline staff and crisis hotline volunteers.
The designer of the winning entry will be notified no later than Monday, July 1, 2024.
The top three entries will receive recognition and prizes!
- 1st place: $500 gift card
- 2nd place: $250 gift card
- 3rd place: $100 gift card
In addition, the artist of the design chosen for Teen Lifeline’s specialty license plate will:
- Be featured in a Teen Lifeline news release and social media posts
- Have the satisfaction of creating a design that will be displayed on thousands of vehicles throughout Arizona for years to come in support of teen suicide prevention