Creative inspiration drives the IWD Typism Annual Lettering Challenge
Lettering provides a great opportunity for self-expression and statement-making, and it is through this creativity that we can all help forge greater awareness about gender equality.
For a seventh year, the Typism Community collaborates on the annual International Women's Day (IWD) Lettering Challenge.
Harnessing the power of creativity, artists can show solidarity in calling on communities to better understand and address gender equality, and support the very essence of the IWD 2026 Give To Gain focus which is all about forging gender equality through abundant giving. When women thrive, we all rise.
Creatives can use lettering as a visual voice to show solidarity, spark conversation, and support collective action in challenging gender inequality.
Both experienced and novice lettering artists worldwide are invited to participate in IWD 2026 by posting across social media platforms their fabulous creations supporting the Give To Gain focus, and using the hashtags #IWDtypism #IWD2026 #GiveToGain to promote their work.
Whether your work is bold, quiet, experimental, digital, or analogue, your contribution matters.
"The 2026 IWD theme is #GivetoGain, and it's a timely and relevant call to action and a statement of hope and inspiration. This is an opportunity to create with purpose, to be seen, and to contribute to a global creative conversation, while doing what you do best. Every year, I am blown away by your IWD lettering concepts, so I can’t wait to see what you come up with," encourages Typism founder, Dominique Falla.
Participate in the IWD 2026 Lettering Challenge
To promote your participation in the IWD Typism Challenge, post your Give To Gain lettering on Instagram, Facebook, Linked, TikTok, and/or further social media platforms using the hashtags: #IWDtypism #IWD2026 #GiveToGain.
Impactful entries and their creators will be continuously featured on the International Women’s Day and typism websites, and actively promoted across the IWD and Typism social media channels throughout the year. Post your work as soon as possible, both ahead and post IWD if you'd like to be featured.
View some of the previously featured IWD lettering creations and read about what inspired the creators and their artwork processes.
View many further submissions for ongoing inspiration via the ongoing #IWDTypism hashtag.
An impactful creation from Yanqiao Jiang
Artwork by Yanqiao Jiang
In her International Women’s Day artwork supporting the Give To Gain focus, graphic designer Yanqiao Jiang focuses on the idea of women strengthening one another through shared support.
Yanqiao built the piece around geometric forms to convey the diversity within the female community. Each shape reflects a different identity, experience, or contribution, and their interlocking arrangement shows how individual gestures combine to create a more unified and empowered whole.
Yanqiao is a professional graphic designer with a Doctor of Visual Arts degree and an alumnus of the Queensland College of Art (QCA) at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. With a wealth of experience in branding and corporate communication projects, Yanqiao specializes in exploring cross-cultural design. Her strengths include brand design, offering relevant design support to various departments, especially in typeface design and asset delivery, and collaborating with professional companies to deliver design assets within budget. Yanqiao has worked for multiple organizations, from corporations with multiple brands in China to the Griffith University Creative Arts Research Institute as a designer and curator. She has also organized events for the Creative Arts Research Institute, providing guidance and assistance in launching events.
Inspired by Yanqiao's piece?
Get involved with the annual IWD Lettering Challenge by creating your own piece and share your creative spirit with the world.
Learn more about the thriving Typism community
Typism Community is a thriving international hub for bringing together type and lettering artists and creating a supportive network. The community was founded in 2013 by creative designer and academic, Dominique Falla who identified a need for a community solely for typographers of the world.
"Typism continues to exist because of the generosity, creativity, and commitment of lettering artists around the world who believe in the power of craft, community, and shared learning ... we’ve seen extraordinary work, meaningful conversations, and a global exchange of ideas that reminds me why Typism began in the first place. As we look ahead, I want to invite you to be part of something that brings those values together once again," says Dominique.
Annually, a Typism Conference is held and produces a curated book of the best black and white lettering from around the world. Plus, learn more about the Typism Books which are curated collections of the world's finest black-and-white lettering, calligraphy, and typography.
Also, check out the many talented creators in the Typism global community, united by their shared love of letterforms, featured in the Typism 100 Directory. Typism 100 is more than just a directory, it’s a community of the best and brightest in the lettering world that's designed to help lettering artists attract new clients, showcase their skills to a wider audience, and celebrate their work.
The Typism Community continues to grow from strength to strength and supports both new and experienced type and lettering artists, so get involved.