Help shape the look of our favourite weekend of the year. We’re looking for an artist to create the next Cove Surf Jam identity—and then work with Ed to bring it to life.
01 — What this is
Cove Surf Jam is a weekend of longboards, single fins, twin fins, live music, pop-up shops, BBQs and general seaside chaos at our little cove in Ahangama.
Every year it gets its own artwork. For 2027 we’re opening that up: we want one designer, illustrator or artist to create the identity for the Jam — and to develop it with Ed Templeton into everything from posters to T-shirts to the flags on the deck.
You send us one idea, not a finished campaign. One selected designer gets paid to take it the rest of the way.
02 — The opportunity
The selected designer receives €500 for the follow-on design work, works directly with Ed, and sees their idea live across an event people travel across the world for.
A single visual idea for Cove Surf Jam 2027, shown on a poster and a T-shirt. Plus a short explanation and a link to your work.
We announce the chosen designer around 20 October. Everyone who enters hears back from us either way.
Through November you develop your idea into the full Jam identity — keeping what makes it yours.
03 — Who you’ll work with
Ed co-founded Soul & Surf and has shaped how it looks and sounds ever since. When surf branding was all sharp logos and hard edges, he helped create something quieter: dreamy photography, unexpected colours and clear, modernist typography.
The approach was influenced by mid-century designers such as Max Bill, Wim Crouwel and Josef Müller-Brockmann, but always given a distinctly Soul & Surf twist.
Ed isn’t interested in second-guessing what will be popular or making something for everyone. He likes work with a point of view: direct, thoughtful and original, without trying too hard to look clever.
The selected designer won’t be handed a list of instructions and asked to decorate it. You’ll work with Ed to develop your idea into the full identity for Cove Surf Jam 2027—keeping what makes it yours while making sure it works everywhere the Jam needs to show up.
04 — The initial challenge
Create one central visual idea for Cove Surf Jam 2027 and show us how it could live on:
Also include a short explanation of the idea and a link to your portfolio, website or Instagram.
No full campaign required. We care more about the personality and potential of the idea than a perfectly polished presentation.
05 — What we’re looking for
We’re looking for an idea that feels original, fits the spirit of Cove Surf Jam (and Ed’s brief) and has the potential to grow across different formats.
You don’t need the biggest portfolio, the most followers or any previous surf-industry experience. You just need to show us something with a point of view.
06 — Where the final work could live
Working with Ed, you’ll develop it into the visual identity for Cove Surf Jam 2027—appearing across T-shirts, social media, signage, stickers, the website and other event merchandise.
For your initial submission, we only need to see the idea applied to a poster and a T-shirt. Everything else comes later, as part of the paid collaboration.
One good idea. Plenty of places for it to go.
2024, 2025 and 2026 — three very different answers to the same event.
07 — What happens next
Download the brief for the full creative direction, practical details and everything you need to submit your idea.
Questions?
08 — Questions, answered
No. Students, illustrators, artists, enthusiastic amateurs and experienced designers are all welcome.
No. You just need to understand—or be curious about—the creative, communal and slightly chaotic spirit of Cove Surf Jam.
One hero concept shown on a poster and a T-shirt, with a short concept explanation.
Yes. Nominate one main contact and tell us who contributed. The final payment will not change if you work as a team.
Yes. AI tools may be used, but you must tell us in the application how you used them. The concept and creative direction should still be your own, and you must have permission to use everything included in your submission.
No. We care more about the strength and personality of the idea than a perfectly polished campaign.
Yes. The selected designer will receive €500 for the follow-on design work set out in a separate brief. This includes collaborating with Ed, completing the agreed final designs, and supplying production-ready exports and organised editable source files so our in-house designer can make any necessary last-minute adjustments before the event.
You retain ownership of your initial entry unless it is selected. If selected, ownership of the chosen concept and the final artwork created under the follow-on brief will transfer to Soul & Surf once the design is finalised and the €500 fee has been paid. You may still show the work in your portfolio, website and social channels after it has been publicly launched.
The selected designer will be contacted before the end of October.
Submit your design through the form below before 15 October.
09 — Application
One poster, one T-shirt, one short explanation. Entries close 15 October.
Last year
Two days of longboards, single fins, live music and general seaside chaos — the weekend your artwork will live on.
More from the weekend: CSJ 2026 Instagram highlight · read the 2026 reflection
One idea. One poster. One T-shirt. No enormous free pitch required.