Spoonflower Presents
The Tangrams
Design Challenge
Originating in China, a tangram is a dissection puzzle made up of seven pieces known as "tans." Essentially, it is a shape made up of a group of smaller shapes that never overlap. Create a design inspired by tangrams; design must repeat. Entries will be previewed at the fat quarter size: 21″ x 18.” Submissions close 3/14/2017 at 3 p.m. EDT.
Overview
Designers: you've tackled novelty animal prints, quirky winter themes, and gathered inspiration from creative hobbies and cocktails of the jazz era. Now it's time to switch gears and take a month to revisit everyone's favorite class from grade school: Geometry. Based on requests from our designer community, surface design trends and popular searches, we've carefully selected 5 geometric themes this month. Some are rooted in spiritual practice (mandalas) others we're used to seeing in nature (hexagons), and a few other super fun themes in between that we think you'll love.
Prizes
One popularly voted grand-prize winner will receive $200 in Spoonflower credit. The 2nd place winner will receive $100 in Spoondollars. The 3rd place winner will receive $50 in Spoondollars. The rest of the top 10 winners will receive $20 in Spoonflower credit. The top 25 popularly voted designs (provided the designers are already verified sellers) will be automatically made available for sale in the Marketplace where they will receive 10% commission on every sale — no $5.00 swatch required! In addition to cash prizes, the top 10 will receive additional exposure in our email newsletters, professional photography of their printed designs, and social media mentions.
The Winner
The rest of the Top 10
The full list of entries and votes
- 278 votes for Calliope - Geometric Floral Aqua Pink & Gold by heatherdutton
- 252 votes for Tangram Kites and Puppies by sarah_treu
- 239 votes for Tangram goldfish and water lilies by elena_naylor
- 237 votes for Modernist Owls Warm Tones Large by pinkowlet
- 233 votes for Tropical Tangrams by lisa_kubenez
- 231 votes for A shoal of tangram fish by ebygomm
- 210 votes for Boxy Foxy by lellobird
- 167 votes for Tangram Geishas by miyatake_(julie's_fabrics)
- 165 votes for people puzzled by abstracthands
- 161 votes for tangram town by scrummy
- 157 votes for Watercolour Animal Tangrams by emerysmithstudio
- 151 votes for Tangram Regatta by jill_o_connor
- 150 votes for royal_skull_tangram-01 by lusine
- 137 votes for Birds by la_fabriken
- 134 votes for Tangram Zodiac by thirdhalfstudios
- 132 votes for Tangram Folk Village by onelittleprintshop
- 131 votes for Spring Raccoon Tangram on Teal by pinky_wittingslow
- 129 votes for Blue Tangram Composition by marketa_stengl
- 128 votes for Golden Fox by gingerlique
- 127 votes for tangram flock o geese migration by vo_aka_virginiao
- 125 votes for Tangram Cats by timone
- 120 votes for Between Day & Night by kmreumann
- 119 votes for Ozark Mountain Dancers by orangefancy
- 117 votes for Mama's Tangram Quilt by cherishedminky
- 114 votes for foxy_tangrams_vert by nadja_petremand
- 114 votes for Tangram seascape by krissymadrid
- 111 votes for Scotties, Check!... yellow mix by stitchyrichie
- 111 votes for Sail Away in Navy by brittany_vogt
- 110 votes for Stormy-Rainbow-Animal-Tangram by linziloop
- 109 votes for Animal Tangram by _rachel_
- 108 votes for kcorytandramanimals by katherinecory
- 106 votes for Tangram night forest by dariara
- 105 votes for Bayeux Tangram Petting Zoo by eclectic_house
- 105 votes for A stitch in time with Tangrams by mimipinto
- 103 votes for TANGRAM FISH by janemonteith
- 103 votes for The Fox & The Crow by vannina
- 102 votes for Tangram Cats by heatherhightdesign
- 101 votes for Deconstructed Tangrams by numberfiveprintco
- 101 votes for Small girl on the tangram boat by magic_pencil
- 99 votes for tangram colourplay by lasidi
- 93 votes for Tangram_cats_and_mice by bugs4
- 90 votes for Tangram diamonds and pearls by camcreative
- 89 votes for tangram boats on blue by heleenvanbuul
- 89 votes for Tangram Fishes by studio_kyu
- 89 votes for pink bunny tangrams by designed_by_debby
- 88 votes for Tangram Town by ceciliamok
- 86 votes for (private design)
- 86 votes for tangram, matter and emptiness by analinea
- 85 votes for (private design)
- 84 votes for Parquetry Tangram by graceful
- 84 votes for Tangram Butterflies by mgdoodlestudio
- 82 votes for Tangram Tropical Fish by designsidestudio
- 82 votes for Tangramenagerie by ciellecharron
- 81 votes for Tangram cats by sveta_aho
- 81 votes for Tangram Fish and Turtles by pinmintprint
- 81 votes for Alphabet Tangrams in Watercolor by thread_sa
- 80 votes for Tangram Shapes by mariafaithgarcia
- 80 votes for (private design)
- 79 votes for (private design)
- 79 votes for Tangram Space Cats by amberw
- 79 votes for Tangram Chevron Pastel Patchwork by micklyn
- 78 votes for TangramBirds1a by offmyrocker
- 77 votes for Watercolor Tangrams by sarah_coombs
- 77 votes for Jewel Map by ghostfire
- 77 votes for Sunset Watercolor Tangrams by monicaanndesign
- 76 votes for Tangram Bunnies M+M Stone Grey by Friztin by friztin
- 75 votes for tangram-3 by lilcubby
- 75 votes for Tangram Cats in my garden by mutterfit
- 75 votes for Tangram Bunnies Bouncing by kellydawn
- 74 votes for tangram pattern by laura_may_designs
- 74 votes for spoonflower_tangrams by supersnazzy
- 73 votes for Tangram Bears by aimeelouiseillustration
- 72 votes for Boho Fox Tangrams by panda_ink_&_design
- 71 votes for Convexity (2) by jjtrends
- 71 votes for Heart Foxes by meowandcraft
- 70 votes for Fun with Tangram Animals by littlewhimsy
- 69 votes for Tangy Tangram by christinelynnjohansen
- 69 votes for Pink Tangram Patchwork by palusalu
- 68 votes for rabbits by kdh_miller
- 68 votes for House Cats by lindiart
- 68 votes for Tangram_Tapestry by j9design
- 68 votes for Tangrams Galore by khowardquilts
- 67 votes for Japanese indigo fishes tangram by gabriellemutel
- 67 votes for 06243248 © cubist tangram birds 8 by sef
- 67 votes for (private design)
- 66 votes for roze_mint_konijnen by leoniecromwijk
- 66 votes for Cats tangram pastel by maredesigns
- 64 votes for Tangram Figures by janetdrummond
- 61 votes for TANGRAM CAT by bluevelvet
- 61 votes for Rabbit And Chicken by moinlena
- 59 votes for Tangram by carimateo
- 58 votes for (private design)
- 56 votes for Tangram_foxes by modernfox
- 56 votes for Tangram Pop! by elramsay
- 55 votes for tangrams by teart
- 53 votes for Tangram Regatta by lisakling
- 53 votes for Tangled Tangram by jilbert
- 53 votes for (private design)
- 53 votes for Origami des Animaux by lottalorier
- 52 votes for Colored_Tangram410-ed by dollydimpledesigns
- 52 votes for watercolor tangrams by marta_strausa
- 52 votes for Tribal Tangrams by fattcheese
- 51 votes for Wood cut wildlife tangram by craftwithcartwright
- 51 votes for mermaids shells blues by magentarosedesigns
- 50 votes for A trip through the forest by everhigh
- 50 votes for Diamond Mine Tangram by jgh_design
- 50 votes for Tangram by honey_gherkin
- 49 votes for Fan Leaf Spectrum by camomoto
- 49 votes for Feline Fruit Fusion Larger Scale ©Jennifer Garrett by jennifer_todd
- 47 votes for TangramFun by fcdesigns
- 47 votes for Paradox by mariaspeyer
- 47 votes for Tangram Patchwork by fulgorine
- 45 votes for Tangram City by seesawboomerang
- 44 votes for Welcome! by miamaria
- 44 votes for (private design)
- 43 votes for animal_kingdom_tangram_pattern by jktphotofab
- 43 votes for Chagram by pain_d'epices
- 43 votes for shatteredromance1 by et_al
- 43 votes for Fun Origami by toxifera_opsis
- 43 votes for Tangram 2 Loving Pop by leah_quinn
- 43 votes for Puppy at Play Tangrams aqua by colour_angel_by_kv
- 43 votes for Animal Tangrams by thewellingtonboot
- 42 votes for Tangram by jadegordon
- 41 votes for geometric tangrams abstract novelty black pink red gray grey by amy_g
- 41 votes for TANGRAM_LAPINS-ch by melhenry
- 41 votes for Let sleeping catgrams lie by beesocks
- 40 votes for Rocky Mountain Tangram by smilinggebogebo
- 40 votes for Tangram by kate's_kwilt_studio
- 40 votes for Puppies_Tangram Style by diannemehta
- 39 votes for tin_man_tangram by leroyj
- 39 votes for Paper Tangrams & Chinese Fans by floramoon
- 39 votes for Icy Waters by milleappeal
- 38 votes for tangram2 by makalarose
- 38 votes for Stained Glass Red Blue by cvetidinkova
- 38 votes for Tangram Tiles by dunnspun
- 37 votes for Africa_variation_1 by isabella_asratyan
- 37 votes for Tangram-dy Land by kevin_skinner
- 36 votes for tangram17 by roxiespeople
- 36 votes for (private design)
- 36 votes for Tangram Chalk Dogs by palifino
- 36 votes for (private design)
- 36 votes for Ship Shapes Flamingo Ditsy by theeggplant
- 35 votes for Tangram_Kids by emmie_norfolk
- 35 votes for Fabric is my Kryptonite by jamielewisdesigns
- 35 votes for Blue Green Tangram by dnbmama
- 35 votes for Swans by alyhillary
- 35 votes for Tangram Cats Watercolor by mjmstudio
- 35 votes for 01_tangram_sorbetto by ecarchidesign
- 34 votes for Seven Colors For Matisse by menny
- 34 votes for Tangram Shapes by robyriker
- 33 votes for geodesic kingfisher pink by lilalunis
- 31 votes for Tangram a la Dreidel 2 by anneostroff
- 31 votes for Bunnies Tiptoeing Through the Tulips by jpweaver
- 30 votes for Tangram Patchwork by enid_a
- 30 votes for Dance, Like a Fox is Watching - Blue Land by azureimagestudio
- 30 votes for tangammy by hannafate
- 29 votes for TANGRAM_2 by bernies_bounty
- 29 votes for Quilt Stars by wildnotions
- 28 votes for swan tangram by perporia
- 28 votes for Boats by mstubina
- 27 votes for HDR Cats Fish & Ferrets Geometric Tangram by xoxotique
- 27 votes for One hunter's quota by ladyrattus
- 26 votes for The Early Tangram Gets The Worm by franbail
- 26 votes for Art Deco and Tangram Inspired Faces with Black Hats by creative_madame
- 26 votes for tiling_Tangram_1 by bahrsteads
- 26 votes for Bunnies by ccroix
- 25 votes for Tangram Designs by b2b
- 25 votes for Tangram Rabbits and Carrots by vinpauld
- 25 votes for catfabric by lilyfox
- 24 votes for Blue pup by katawampus
- 24 votes for Lumberjack red by laurajohanna
- 24 votes for tangram triangles white by pamelachi
- 24 votes for Tangrams by mandy_b
- 24 votes for Tangram birds kites by bonmélange
- 24 votes for Welsh_Dragon_Tangram by fatcat_designs
- 24 votes for Two_Small_Town_Cats sewindigo by sewindigo
- 24 votes for nordic_tangram by natalie_du
- 23 votes for Painted Patchwork Tangrams by boris_thumbkin
- 23 votes for Reading by anniedeb
- 23 votes for Tanagram Dance Party by ekatrina
- 23 votes for Tangram Cats by brooklynsouthern
- 23 votes for tancont_1b by isa_art
- 23 votes for Tangram universe seconds after the big bang in greens, white and black. by aygeartist
- 22 votes for Tangram Flower Pot by mypetalpress
- 21 votes for Tangram 1-2-3 by mandimlynch
- 21 votes for Rainbow Heart by spottedfox
- 21 votes for Tangrams fishes by Artninus by artninus
- 21 votes for (private design)
- 20 votes for more than meets the eye by illustrative
- 20 votes for Charles Rennie Tanagram by amsterdamsel
- 20 votes for Metallic 80's tangrams by arrpdesign
- 19 votes for Ode to Climbing: Hand-drawn Tangrams by clairekalinadesigns
- 19 votes for Mondrian_meets_the Tangram by ruthjohanna
- 19 votes for (private design)
- 19 votes for Diamond-Fox-Tangram-Pink by gloriapjlee28
- 18 votes for Tanagram_fish_swimming_with_lotus_flowers_2 by heather_hughes_-_halarty_designs
- 18 votes for Untitled-1 by ekcdesigns
- 18 votes for (private design)
- 17 votes for Puzzle_Art_Picture_1 by salihakhanum
- 17 votes for tangrams love - white by em0138
- 16 votes for harlequin_birds_blue by artist_chloe_birnie
- 16 votes for tangram_mallard_aztec by allisonyoung
- 16 votes for tangram_3 by pixabo
- 15 votes for I Love U Tangrams by rasha_stokes
- 15 votes for Swangram by sixsie_lou
- 15 votes for (private design)
- 15 votes for PINK YARROW, PALE DOGWOOD AND HAZELNUT TANGRAMS by heckadoodledo
- 15 votes for Beach Huts and Boats by lauraflorencedesign
- 13 votes for Tangram_Jewels by pru
- 13 votes for Small Navy ziggy by twigsandblossoms
- 13 votes for Tancalis by crca_gentile
- 13 votes for Gilded Tangram Pieces by pond_ripple
- 12 votes for Puzzling Tangram Pattern - Teal and Dark Red by whyitsme_design
- 12 votes for Bold by charldia
- 12 votes for Fish_tangram by alandco
- 11 votes for yellow triangles by ssullins
- 11 votes for In the Garden; large by twilfley
- 11 votes for Tangram by e_riv
- 11 votes for Tangram rocks by zandloopster
- 11 votes for Tangrams by suzanne_dye
- 10 votes for Little foxes by lalala_fabric
- 10 votes for tangram by muccajean
- 10 votes for Mountain_Village by jigliving
- 10 votes for Contest_Tangram___103_3334 by disneymamom
- 9 votes for Mirror Alaska by dall_artistry_
- 9 votes for tangram_collage_spoonflower by mermaid13
- 9 votes for Inspired_by_a_Tangram by varycarol
- 9 votes for Summer Tangram by ak-wildenature
- 9 votes for Tangram Chickens by raeranier
- 8 votes for Tree Dreams by liamkatiemom
- 8 votes for Woodduck 1 by otter54
- 8 votes for REDWOOD_FORREST by designer_gena
- 8 votes for floral_fabric by ishkabibbles
- 7 votes for Gems by by_alexa_joan
- 7 votes for Tropical Toucan by apalazon
- 7 votes for tangram in greens and reds by artgirlangi
- 6 votes for ivy acid green by feralappareletc
- 4 votes for tangram_square_dance by hedgepigart
- 4 votes for Batty for Tangram by old_owl_press
- 2 votes for gift60's letterquilt by gift60
- 1 votes for shapes_vers_tabcdeg by maryjanndesigns
Tangrams Details
- The deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 3 PM EDT.
- Designs will be previewed at 150 DPI in a fat quarter size (21” x 18”) on the voting ballot.
- All designs will be eligible for public voting, and the popular vote determines the top 25 winning designs. The grand-prize winner will be the fabric design with the most votes.
- Public or private designs previously uploaded on Spoonflower.com are not eligible for this contest. Designs do not require printed proofing to enter the contest.
- Moderation will take place at the close of the contest deadline.
- See our blog page for even more Design Challenge details and a list of previous themes.
Timeline
- 02/03/2017: Submissions open
- 03/14/2017: Submissions close at 3pm EDT
- 03/16/2017: Public voting opens
- 03/21/2017: Public voting ends at 3pm EDT
- 03/23/2017: Spoonflower will announce the winner
Active Challenges
Earth Tone Throw Pillows
See the ChallengeSubmissions close January 24 at 3 p.m. EST,
Winners to be announced February 2
Time Machine
See the ChallengeSubmissions close January 31 at 3 p.m. EST,
Voting begins February 2
Room-Specific Wallpaper
See the ChallengeSubmissions close February 7 at 3 p.m. EST,
Voting begins February 9
Mosses
See the ChallengeSubmissions close February 14 at 3 p.m. EST,
Voting begins February 16