Feb 23 – Mar 4, 2025
"Once Upon an Idea" Illustration Competition
Once Upon an Idea was a storytelling-based card game designed to teach entrepreneurship in a creative and engaging way, using Dungeons & Dragons-inspired narratives. We invited talented illustrators from across Ireland to bring this vision to life.
17
Artworks submitted
70+
Attendants
Winners
Meet the talented illustrators who brought Chapter 1 to life and claimed the top prizes.
Dylan Breheny
Trinity College Dublin
Grand Prize
1 000
€
Ellen Brennan
Trinity College Dublin
Audience Vote
250
€
All artworks
Explore the full gallery of magical submissions from students and alumni across Ireland.
Creativity & Originality
◦ Does the illustration bring a unique and imaginative vision toThe Shadows in the Woods?
◦ Does it showcase an original artistic style?
◦ Does it showcase an original artistic style?
Storytelling & Interpretation
◦ How well does the illustration capture the mystery and courage of the given story prompt?
◦ Does it effectively convey the problem lurking in the woods?
◦ Does it effectively convey the problem lurking in the woods?
Technical Skill & Execution
◦ Is the artwork well-crafted with strong composition, technique, and attention to detail?
◦ Does it demonstrate artistic skill and professionalism?
◦ Does it demonstrate artistic skill and professionalism?
Emotional Impact & Atmosphere
◦ Does the illustration evoke a strong mood, atmosphere, or emotion?
◦ Does it draw the viewer into the world of the story?
◦ Does it draw the viewer into the world of the story?
Suitability for the Card Deck
◦ Would this illustration fit within the style and vision of theOnce Upon an Idea deck?
◦ Is it adaptable for the full 10-card series?
◦ Is it adaptable for the full 10-card series?
Schedule
February 23
Submission deadline
February 27
Results announced
March 4
18:00 – 18:45
Networking and gallery walkthrough featuring all 17 illustrations of Shadows in the Woods
March 4
18:45 – 19:00
Opening remarks
March 4
19:00 – 19:15
Audience voting for the favorite piece
March 4
19:15 – 19:25
Judges announce the winners
March 4
19:25 – 19:30
Closing remarks
Gallery
FAQ
Once Upon an Idea was a unique storytelling game and card deck that guided players through the 10 essential steps of entrepreneurship, inspired by the world of Dungeons & Dragons. The competition invited talented illustrators to bring these stories to life through their artwork.
The competition was open to university students across Ireland and TCD alumni who were illustrators, painters, sketchers, or digital artists—whether professional or not.
Artists illustrated Chapter 1: The Shadows in the Woods, setting the tone for the adventure. The artwork captured the themes of mystery and courage as the journey began.
◦ Submitted artwork in A3 Portrait format (PDF or image);
◦ Included a short overview describing the proposed illustration;
◦ Uploaded a portfolio of 3–5 pieces showcasing artistic work;
◦ AI-generated artwork was not allowed.
◦ Included a short overview describing the proposed illustration;
◦ Uploaded a portfolio of 3–5 pieces showcasing artistic work;
◦ AI-generated artwork was not allowed.
◦ All selected finalists showcased their work at a gallery-style exhibition.
◦ Guests and judges voted for their favourite illustration.
◦ The Audience Favourite won €250.
◦ The Grand Prize Winner illustrated the full deck and received €1,000.
◦ Guests and judges voted for their favourite illustration.
◦ The Audience Favourite won €250.
◦ The Grand Prize Winner illustrated the full deck and received €1,000.
Finalists confirmed their attendance by emailing ask@openincubator.ie to ensure their artwork was included in the showcase.
The Grand Prize Winner received €1,000 and the opportunity to illustrate all 10 cards of the Once Upon an Idea deck.
The selected illustrations were printed and showcased at the exhibition, with the winner’s work featured in the final deck.
Sponsor
Funded
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