Here's your opportunity to get in on the ground floor: Enter your work in the first-ever Chicago International Poster Biennial. It's a competition endorsed by the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) and open to any designer, anywhere in the world. You can submit posters created within the past two years to vie for a spot in the final exhibition, which is slated to take place outdoors. Send your best work by May 27 for the chance to liven up Chicago's streets.
http://chicagobiennial.org

It's hard to win during a presidential election year. You either internalize the political angst and raise your blood pressure or risk starting a barroom brawl at happy hour. Let us suggest a third alternative: Express your political views in a poster and enter The Art of Politics 2008. You can submit through April 30 for the chance to win one of three $100 prizes for your favorite political or community group. The jury panel includes famed poster designer Art Chantry and Susan Hoffman, a partner at Wieden+Kennedy.
http://www.artofpolitics2008.com/

There's no stopping the kids on the PBS reality show Design Squad, where the next generation of creatives build everything from cardboard furniture to wind-powered kinetic art. But now any design-minded youth ages 5 through 19 can jump into the fray with the Trash to Treasure competition. The rules: Use everyday materials to help the environment, move people or stuff, or facilitate play. One lucky winner takes home $10,000, a possible appearance on the show and other prizes. Deadline: June 30.
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/contest/