Theme: Desirable Future

This year we challenge the Tribe to imagine their inner child in a future set in 40 years from now.

In 2060 we will have succeeded in becoming fossil free; however, the CO2 in the air will still be too much. Carbon removal is possible through forestation, algae cultivation, or slow agriculture. It's our mission to build a world where innovation is the universal language and technology and creativity join forces. The future may be uncertain, but together we must pave the way to a better society. Despite this challenge, our inner child will want to play around and have fun with others.

How would your inner child imagine a desirable future?

The Challenges

Professional Challenge

This challenge is aimed at artists who are no longer students and would like to be a part of the THU experience!

Go to Challenge

accepting submissions until august 5

The Prizes

1st Place

Ticket to THU2019

Flights

Accommodation

Meals

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

2nd place prize

1 year subscription to ArtStation Pro

Free Access to all THU TV volumes

Ticket to THU2019

3rd place prize

1 year subscription to ArtStation Pro

Free Access to all THU TV volumes

Student Challenge

If you’re a recent graduate or student enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education between January 2018 - Sept 2019, this category is for you!

Go to Challenge

accepting submissions until august 5

The Prizes

1st Place

Ticket to THU2019

Flights

Accommodation

Meals

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24

Internship at the Daimler Design Studio

2nd place prize

Ticket to THU2019

1 year subscription to ArtStation Pro

3rd place prize

Ticket to THU2019

1 year subscription to ArtStation Pro

The history of the Golden Ticket

2018

Land of Wonder

Professional Challenge

Winner: Bjorn Hurri

Number of entries: 436

Student Challenge

Winner: Maximilian Georg Liebscher

Number of entries: 399

In 2018, THU celebrated its new home, Malta, and the theme was Land of Wonder. This was the year we decided to create a category just for students, giving young artists the tools they need to start their careers. Altogether, we received a record number of 835 submissions!

Bjorn Hurri, Art Director and Lead Artist at Opus Artz studio, based in London, UK, won the Professional category. Maximilian Georg Liebscher, a Designer and artist working in Experience Development and Visual Concept, based in Dresden, Germany, won the Student category.

Bjorn Hurri

Maximilian Georg Liebscher

2017

THU Clans

Winner: Te Hu

Number of entries: 192

The theme in 2017 was THU Clans. Each different nationality and individual brings something unique to the community we like to refer to as “the Tribe”; a different perspective, a new vision, an interesting context, or a cultural twist.

The winner was Te Hu, a Technical Artist at Industrial Light and magic xlab, based in San Francisco, USA.
The 2017 submissions were incredible, so we also awarded five honorable mentions!

2016

THU Reborn

Winner: Grace Liu

Number of entries: 184

Prize worth: € 5000

In 2016, we asked artists to imagine a new world, born from the darkness, where the spirit of the artist is reborn. A world where art is the common language and the future has infinite possibilities.

The winner was Grace Liu, a 3D artist specialized in hand-painted low-poly, concept artist and illustrator based in Texas, USA.

2015

THU Tribe

Winner: Jakob Eirich (Yakonosuke)

Number of entries: 370

Prize worth: € 5000

2015’s challenge was all about The Tribe, whatever that means to you: be it a character, a set of characters, a landscape, or a more abstract concept.

The winner was Jakob Eirich, a freelance concept artist and illustrator living and working in Salzgitter, Germany.

2014

THU Warrior

Winner: Max Kostenko

Number of entries: 243

Prize worth: € 3500

In 2014, the challenge was to create a THU Warrior. As always, entrants went above and beyond to invent some incredibly creative characters.

The winner was Max Kostenko, a talented digital artist from Moscow, specialising in illustration and character design.

2013

THU Friend or foe

Winner: Dor Shamir

Number of entries: 180

Prize worth: € 2500

In 2013, we challenged artists to digitally create a new character to represent THU – the Trojan Horse was a Unicorn mascot.

Dor Shamir struck gold: having always loved creating unique and interesting characters, and fascinated by cartoons and cinema, he drew on his 10 years of experience in the industry to design and perfect his character.