YOUNG DESIGNER COMPETITION 2026
FROM PATTERN TO PRODUCT
We’re back. 🧶
This year, we’re looking for one young South African creative with very good ideas.
Create an original two-colour repeat pattern inspired by our theme, Threads of Connection.
Three finalists. One winner. One real shot at seeing your work become actual product.
You design it. We work together to make it real.
THREADS OF CONNECTION
Connection is everywhere in what we do. It’s what our business has been built on, from collaborations and communities to the many hands involved in making every piece.
Sometimes the most interesting connections exist between things that are completely different, yet somehow depend on one another. People and places. Bees and flowers. Ideas and hands. Yarn and the tiny loops that hold it all together.
This year, we want to see what connection means to you.
Personal, cultural, emotional, natural, literal, abstract or completely unexpected.
Take it literally. Take it sideways. Show us what connects.
Create an original two-colour repeat pattern inspired by Threads of Connection.
Two colours only. No sneaky third colour. 😉 That restriction is part of the challenge, and part of designing for knitwear.
Who can enter:
- South African creatives aged 29 or younger
- Based in South Africa
- No formal design qualification required
- Unlimited entries allowed
- ID must be submitted with your entry
Entries using more than two colours will not be considered.
FROM FINALIST TO FINISHED PRODUCT
We’ll shortlist three finalists, then choose one winner. This year, we’re going all in on one designer.
The winner will work with Something Good Studio to take their pattern from screen to stitch, potentially across homeware, knitwear, clothing or accessories.
Where could your pattern end up? A blanket? A scarf? A coat? A dress? A tote? Something for a hotel? Something we haven’t invented yet? Let’s find out. ✨
The winner receives:
- A minimum R10,000 design fee
- At least one finished product featuring their work
- Product-development mentorship
- Professional product photography and campaign exposure
- Potential media and press opportunities
If we develop additional patterns or products with the winner, these will be agreed and paid for separately.
HOW TO ENTER + KEY DATES
Email your entry to smtnggood@gmail.com with:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- Copy of ID
- Your two-colour repeat pattern/s
- A title for your pattern combined with a short story behind the work, 50 words max
You’ll receive an automated email confirming we’ve received your entry.
ENTRIES CLOSE: 18 OCTOBER 2026
TOP 3 FINALISTS: 19–23 OCTOBER 2026
Finalists will be contacted directly. If you haven’t heard from us by 23 October 2026, unfortunately your entry has not been selected this time.
Share it far and wide, and tag us:
@smtnggoodstudio
@romaria_knitwear
THE SMALL PRINT
Your artwork must be completely original and created by you.
The winning designer retains ownership of their artwork, while Something Good Studio receives exclusive commercial rights to use the selected pattern for the agreed products and period.
This exclusivity will typically run for 12–24 months, meaning the same pattern may not be commercially licensed or supplied to another brand during that period.
Before anything goes into production, we’ll enter into a separate agreement covering the design fee, products being developed, usage rights and exclusivity period.
READY?
Make us stop scrolling.
We want the pattern we haven’t seen before.
Let’s weave forward together. 🧶
Submit your design2024/2025 Winners
2025 Young Designer Collection
2022/2023 Winners
Before
After
"The Young Designer Competition was something I just took a shot at in 2022, thinking 'it’s not something I could actually win' but ended up surprising myself. The impact of winning has been huge – it’s boosted my confidence as a designer and to back myself more. It has led to really special collaborations and work opportunities - it’s come full circle to joining the Something Good & Romaria team as their Creative Assistant. It’s worth it no matter if you win or not because it’s a platform to approach/learn from a new brief as a young designer, and not just any brief, but one that celebrates diversity and exploration."
Jade Taylor
2021 Winners
