Here's a cool indoor activity to keep us out of the sun: Designing a T-shirt worthy of our wacky discussion group. Yup, this is your big chance to parade your artistic talents before the XML Austin User Group and win a free t-shirt!

The deadline for submissions is July 30th. At that time we will post all the received submissions online, a poll will be anounced to the XML Austin User Group email list, and everyone will have one week to vote on the best design. The winning entry will be announced before the August 10th meeting, and we can probably have the shirts ready for the September meeting. Members will pay for their own shirts, but the design contest winner gets a free shirt courtesy of Scrutable Systems.  Woo!

• Logo art should contain "XML Austin" or "XML Austin Users Group" prominently featured in the design.
• Logo art should contain "www.xmlaustin.org" somewhere in the design.
• Submit logo entry art files as 500 px X 500 px raster images for web display (we will handle the creation of thumbnails and stuff), and please include vector files if available.
• If submitting a design with more than one logo/text block (front and back for example), please send the designs as separate image files.
  
• Please include a text description of your design concept describing where the logo appears, shirt background color, type of shirt, etc.
• All entrants must have previously attended at least one group meeting, though you're welcome to get all the outside help you can find.
• Designs must be original and not violate copyrights or trademarks of any entities.
• By submitting a design you agree to let it be posted on the XMLAustin website (duh!) next to your name. You can give us a pseudonym, if you want.
  

• You can choose what dyed background color you would like for the shirt. Different colors have different prices and different size ranges available in various styles, etc.
• Think about the entire shirt design, not just the logo. For example, the shirt could be designed to have a full front printed with nothing on the back, a full back printed with a front pocket-area design, or any other combination - it's all up to you (and your muse). Sure, having more than one design on a shirt (like a front pocket + a full back) will cost a bit more, but these shirts need to be rad, yo?
• 2 or 3-color (+ background) designs are probably best (4 or more colors are possible, but will wind up costing more).
• To get an idea of shirt colors available and approximate prices, you can go to www.CustomInk.com, and try their " quick quote" thingy.
  
• Feel free to submit as many designs as you like; you can also submit a revision to a previously submitted design, so long as everything is submitted by the deadline.
• Depending on how many entries we get and the price of tea in Kuala Lampur, we may be able to post some price quotes next to each shirt entry. Or not.
  
• Contestants may post links to their designs to the group early to get feedback from the group, or you can keep your entry a secret until we reveal the designs on the XMLAustin website on July 30th!

To submit an entry, email your design to xmlaustin AT scrutable DOT com (and optionally post it somewhere and send a link to the yahoo group).

Good Luck! We are eager to see what y'all come up with...