Why not start with the A' Design Awards? The annual contest is the world's largest design competition, reaching over 200 countries. You can register and enter online, and winning can really help to open doors for you in your career.
Find the right category
One of the best things about the A' Design Awards is the large number of categories, so you'll be sure to find one that matches your skillset. There are more than 100 categories to enter overall including packaging design; graphics and visual communication design; computer graphics and 3D model design; movie and animation design; and arts, crafts and ready-made design. You'll find the full list here.
All entries are evaluated by an expert jury of scholars, professionals and media members, and winners will be announced on Creative Boom on 15 April.
Reap the benefits
Winning an A' Design Award doesn't get you just one prize, but many. Victors get, for example, a 3D-printed metal trophy in a luxury box; the annual yearbook in both digital and hardcopy versions; an award-winners manual, which helps you get more out of your award status; a free gala-night invitation for two people to the award ceremony; free participation and space allocation in the winners' exhibition (both online and physical), and publication of your work to 100+ magazines including Creative Boom. You can check out the full list of benefits at adesignaward.com.
How to enter
The entry deadline for early submission is 28 February. You can enter your work, and learn more about the awards, here. Meanwhile, to inspire you further, here are some of the past winners of the A' Design Awards.