For five years running, The Society of Typographic Arts (STA) has hosted Archive, a design competition dedicated to inspiring and preserving great typography around Chicago. The winning work is placed in the Chicago Design Archive, which houses an array of Chicago’s finest graphic design work dating back to 1869. This year’s theme for Archive10 is “elections,” so naturally, the call for entries features patriotic reds, whites, and blues, and starry fonts.

“Since this is the only competition of its kind – and showcases only Chicago-area designers and their work – our theme is a crossroads of politics and pride, both found in abundance among Chicagoans,” said designer Molly Wells, Grip Design. “We took cues from the Chicago flag and historical political slogans, turned our esteemed panel of judges into super-delegates, and encouraged our fellow designers to ‘enter early, enter often.’”

The call for entries satirizes the election process with hushed bribes (the first 120 entrants receive a limited edition Sonnenzimmer poster), a shot at influencing the judges (a Judges Meet & Greet will be held on August 26, 2010, “but be warned: no conspicuous payoffs allowed”), and of course a party to honor the winners (a Gala will be held October 21, 2010).

Amidst all the political ambiguity, STA was clear in their environmental platform. “Mohawk Loop was the perfect paper choice for this project because of the variety within the line and the printability of the recycled sheet,” said Wells. “It was well suited for both the STA and for our preferences as designers since it is both excellent quality and environmentally responsible.”

The 2010 STA call for entries was designed by Molly Wells along with Kevin McConkey, Kelly Kaminski, Josh Blaylock, and Camay Ho of Grip Design, and printed by Yorke Printe Shoppe on 100% postconsumer waste Mohawk Loop Inxwell Super Smooth Eco White.

Read more about the STA call for entries and the limited edition Sonnenzimmer poster on Felt & Wire and UnderConsideration’s For Print Only.

See past STA Archive winners.

More about all of Mohawk’s environmental papers.