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Stickers are more than just gluey decorations: they tap into core human impulses and emotions; signal identity, mood or attitude; and act as nostalgia generators, loved collectibles, and proud badges of belonging. Car bumper stickers, in particular, serve as a snappy canvas and vehicle (literally and metaphorically) for projecting identity and shaping public perception. They are symbols of what psychologists call “low-cost identity displays”, used to communicate what we want (or don’t want), what we stand for, and who we are – or perhaps more accurately, how we want to be seen.

Your sticker can capture and communicate anything about you – silly or serious, pro or con, dreams and desires, narrative or non-sequitor – as long as it messages quickly and with character.

In a public celebration of these sticky statements, a curated collection of entries will take center stage at the renowned neurotitan gallery in Berlin from May 6–10 2026 as the official exhibition of this year’s 22nd Pictoplasma Berlin Conference on Character Creativity (May 7–9).

Submission Details:

● Sticker designs can come in any size and shape (round, rectangular, wonky…) as long as they fit within a maximum area of 2500 wide x 1600 pixel high (8.5 x 5.5 inches / 22 x 14 cm)*
● Non-rectangular stickers should be presented on top of a white background. If the sticker itself has a white background, kindly add an outline to show your intended sticker shape.
● Entries must include a written text/slogan + a character illustration (at least one word + one character) – and express your personal passion, provocation or point-of-view
● Sticker content should suit Pictoplasma's Code of Conduct: everything made by you, nothing harmful or hateful, nothing too NSFW
● All entries are to be uploaded to your account on home.pictoplasma.com and include the official hashtag #StickyCharacters in the project's About section.
Accounts on PictoHome are free to make, and should be set up with your desired display name / location (how you will be credited)
● Submissions must be uploaded before the deadline = Sunday March 29 at midnight (in all timezones)

Along with the exhibition showcase selection, a special jury of sticker experts will examine all entries to determine a final set of 15 winners whose works will be published together in a sticker set.

Winners will receive:

● 150€ gift card to print their own custom stickers with StickerApp (shipping info)
● The bumper sticker set, mailed to their home or for enthusiastic pick up in Berlin
● 20 additional copies of their bumper sticker design

–* Those selected for exhibition and printing will be contacted in early April via their Picto Home account email to coordinate prizes and request their print-ready file (minimum 300DPI at your chosen size, CMYK colours).