Some thoughts from the Jury (2025)

We would first like to thank all the amazing artists who contributed to this year's competitions! It is wonderful to see that the interest in poster art is so high all around the world.

The level was high, and it was very difficult to narrow down so many beautiful images. But our task was to select ten posters per competition for the final – no matter how tough it was.

Here are our impressions and thoughts regarding this year's two competitions (MyFinlandPoster and MySwedenPoster):

The Theme

Has the poster creator interpreted the theme in an interesting, unique, and relevant way? We appreciate when there is a balance (or tension) between the traditional and the slightly unexpected – something we recognize and something that surprises us.

In other words, the visual expression is of course very important. We are always happy when an image is professionally executed but you can still feel the person behind the work. Quite often, the images were too polished and similar, maybe even a bit "cold."

We of course spent a lot of time thinking about the actual choices of imagery, what the artists had chosen to depict. We were especially fond of unexpected motifs that still fit perfectly with the themes of the competitions.

The Atmosphere

A good poster conveys a feeling: lovely, mysterious, homely, adventurous… The best submissions often have in common that there is a special atmosphere in the image that "pulls in" the viewer into the motif.

The Execution

A well-made poster integrates the different components: image, illustration, typography, etc. When all parts work together, through color, form, and layout, a harmonious whole is created.

One example is when the text and typography become part of the illustration (preferably in a clever way) and not just placed on top of the image/illustration.

So, when designing a poster, composition is key, and the placement of the text plays a major role. Especially artists who have considered this in the entire planning of the image impress us. In this year's competitions, some have succeeded in integrating the text as a natural part of the storytelling, which is very nice. But we also see that many have not invested the time and effort that good typography requires.

We are also impressed by images with unique color choices; they can either be very harmonious or exciting, unexpected combinations.

Macro + Micro

Does the poster work in both large and small formats? A good poster is clear and distinct from a distance and in small sizes, such as on a screen. At the same time, it can withstand close examination with carefully attended details.

And lastly ... We would love to see your contribution also next year! Stay tuned for more poster news.