SIR PAUL SMITH MEMOIR DESIGN COMPETITION – THREADS: MY LIFE IN STYLE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before entering. Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in your disqualification from the Competition.
1. THE PROMOTERS
a) The Paul Smith Memoir Design Competition (the "Competition") is a prize competition to design a limited-edition proof cover for Threads: My Life in Style, a memoir by Sir Paul Smith.
b) The Competition is run jointly by:
Pan Macmillan, a trading division of Macmillan Publishers International Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 02063302 and registered office at Cromwell Place, Hampshire International Business Park, Lime Tree Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8YJ ("Pan Macmillan"); and
Paul Smith's Foundation, a charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales with charity number 1065751 and a private company limited by guarantee registered with the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales with company number 03346635, whose registered office is at 20 Kean Street, London, WC2B 4AS, England ("Paul Smith's Foundation").
Pan Macmillan and Paul Smith's Foundation are together referred to as the "Promoters" throughout these Terms and Conditions.
c) By entering the Competition, you are accepting these Terms and Conditions.
2. ELIGIBILITY OF ENTRANTS
a) To be eligible to enter the Competition, you must:
be aged 18 or over and resident in the United Kingdom at the date of submission; and
be either (i) a non-professional designer; or (ii) a professional designer with no more than five (5) years of cumulative professional experience in a paid creative role at the date of submission.
b) For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, a "paid creative role" means any work, whether employed, freelance or self-employed, in which creative output forms the primary focus of the role, such as that of a graphic designer, illustrator, or similar creative discipline. Paid placements and part-time roles count towards the five-year threshold for the full duration of the period during which they were held, regardless of the number of hours worked per week.
c) For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, a "non-professional designer" means a person who has not, at the date of submission, worked in a paid creative role as defined in clause 2(b).
d) This Competition is not open to directors or employees (or members of their immediate families or households) of either Promoter or any subsidiary of either Promoter. The Competition is also not open to any person directly connected with the running, administration or judging of the Competition.
e) The Promoters reserve the right to verify the eligibility of Competition entrants. Entrants may be required to provide evidence of the duration and nature of their creative experience to satisfy this verification.
f) Entrants may only submit one entry. Multiple entries will be deemed invalid and may lead to disqualification.
g) There can only be one named entrant per entry and joint entries are not permitted.
3. HOW TO ENTER
a) Entries must be submitted to threadsdesigncompetition@macmillan.com.
b) To enter you must submit a single PDF containing:
- your full name;
- a written statement of no more than 200 words explaining why you are the right designer for this commission; and
- a portfolio of between 3 and 6 pieces of existing work, with each piece representing a distinct project. Portfolio pieces may be handmade or digitally produced.
The PDF must not exceed 15 MB in total file size.
c) No new work should be created specifically for the purpose of this Competition and the portfolio submission is intended to showcase work already produced by the entrant. Where portfolio pieces are physical in nature, digital photographs or scans of those pieces should be included in the PDF. Physical originals should not be sent.
d) There is no fee to enter the Competition, however entrants are responsible for any incidental costs they may incur in submitting their entry, such as costs associated with scanning or digitising physical portfolio pieces for inclusion in the PDF.
e) The Promoters accept no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the Promoters by the closing date for any reason. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entries via agents or third parties are invalid. Entrants are advised to retain a copy of their entry, as the Promoters are unable to return entries or provide copies.
4. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES
The Competition closes at 23:59 on Sunday 7 June 2026. Entries submitted after the closing date will not be accepted. Please ensure you allow yourself plenty of time to complete your submission before the closing date.
5. ELIGIBILITY OF ENTRIES
a) Entries to the Competition must comply with the submission criteria set out in these Terms and Conditions.
b) Entrants must only submit work that is their own original work. Where a portfolio piece incorporates third party intellectual property (for example, work created as part of a client project), the entrant warrants that they have all necessary rights and permissions to include that work in their submission for the purposes of this Competition.
c) Portfolio pieces created wholly or in part by generative AI technologies are not eligible and should not be submitted. By submitting an entry, each entrant warrants that their portfolio submission complies with this requirement.
d) The Promoters reserve the right to disqualify an entrant and their entry, and to withhold or withdraw any prize awarded, where either Promoter considers, in its sole determination, that: (i) the entry is not the entrant's own work (including, without limitation, where portfolio pieces have been created wholly or in part by generative AI technologies) or does not comply with the requirements of this clause 5 or otherwise breaches any of these Terms and Conditions; or (ii) the entrant has tampered with or interfered with the entry process or acted in any manner deemed to be disruptive of, or prejudicial to, the operation or administration of the Competition, or which is contrary to the spirit or intention of the Competition.
e) Entries must not breach any applicable legislation or regulations or contain any defamatory, offensive or otherwise unsuitable material.
6. JUDGING AND SELECTION
a) All entries that comply with the submission criteria set out in these Terms and Conditions will be considered by the judging panel.
b) Submissions will be shortlisted by a judging panel comprising:
Claire Bush – Communications Director, Marketing, Pan Macmillan
Tiana-Jane Dunlop – Cover Designer, Pan Macmillan
Sean Baker – Chief Brand Officer, Paul Smith, and Trustee, Paul Smith's Foundation
Martha Mosse – Director, Paul Smith's Foundation
Alex Bec – Co-Founder, It's Nice That
c) The winning entry will be selected from a shortlist of five (5) by Sir Paul Smith.
d) Portfolios and written statements will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Portfolio – quality of execution: the standard of finish and attention to detail demonstrated across the submitted portfolio;
- Portfolio – innovative spirit: the originality, creative voice and freshness of ideas demonstrated through the portfolio; and
- Written statement: how clearly and compellingly the entrant has articulated why they are the right designer for this commission.
e) The judges' decision is final and binding in all matters relating to the Competition and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to any decision made.
f) The Promoters reserve the right not to award the Prize if, in the opinion of the judges, no entry submitted meets the standard required of a winning entry.
g) The Promoters reserve the right to substitute any member of the judging panel in the event that a panel member is unable to fulfil their role, provided that Sir Paul Smith's role as the final selector of the winner will only be varied in circumstances beyond the Promoters' control. Where a substitution is made, the Promoters will notify entrants by updating the competition webpage. The judging panel will at all times include at least one independent judge who is not connected with either of the Promoters. The full names of the judging panel, as constituted from time to time, will be made available on request.
7. NOTIFICATION OF WINNER
a) The winner will be notified by email during the week commencing Monday 22 June 2026.
b) If a winner does not respond to the Promoters within five (5) working days of being notified to confirm their acceptance of the prize in principle, that winner's prize will be forfeited and the Promoters shall be entitled to award the prize to an alternative winner chosen from the remaining shortlist in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. Confirmation of acceptance of the prize in principle at this stage does not constitute entry into the Freelance Agreement referred to in clause 11 below, which is a separate step governed by that clause.
c) The winner may be required to participate in reasonable post-event publicity (including on the Promoters' websites and social media channels) at no cost to the Promoters.
8. THE PRIZE
a) There is one (1) winner. The prize consists of the following elements:
(i) Commission of the limited-edition proof cover
The winner will be commissioned by Pan Macmillan to create a limited-edition proof cover design for Threads: My Life in Style (further described in clause 10 below). The winner will receive a £500 commission fee for this work, subject to clause 11 below.
(ii) Tea and tour with Sir Paul Smith at Paul Smith HQ
A visit to Paul Smith's headquarters at 20 Kean St, London WC2B 4AS, hosted by Sir Paul Smith. The visit will consist of a cup of tea with Sir Paul Smith and a tour of the offices and will last approximately one (1) hour.
(iii) Visit to Pan Macmillan offices
A visit of up to two (2) hours to the Pan Macmillan offices at The Smithson, 6 Briset Street, London, EC1M 5NR, to meet the design team and learn about the cover-design processes in book publishing.
(iv) Signed proof copy
One (1) copy of the limited-edition proof bearing the winner's cover design, signed by Sir Paul Smith.
9. PRIZE LOGISTICS AND EXPENSES
a) The prize is non-transferable. No cash alternative to any element of the prize is available.
b) Subject to the winner having entered into and complied with the Freelance Agreement and delivered the completed design in accordance with clause 11, the signed proof copy will be provided to the winner following completion of the print run, which is anticipated to take place by 9th September 2026.
c) All elements of the prize, including visit experiences, must be taken within one (1) year of the winner being announced, on dates mutually agreed between the winner and the relevant Promoter(s). The Promoters reserve the right to substitute any element of the prize with an alternative of equal or greater value if it becomes impossible or impracticable to deliver that element in its original form.
d) The Promoters will use reasonable endeavours to arrange both visits (to Paul Smith HQ and to the Pan Macmillan offices) on the same date but reserve the right to schedule them separately.
e) The winner will be responsible for their own transport arrangements in connection with both visits, including travel between the two locations where both visits are scheduled on the same day.
f) Pan Macmillan will contribute up to £100 per day of visit towards the winner's reasonable travel expenses (being public transport fares and taxi fares where reasonable), supported by receipts. For the avoidance of doubt, where both visits take place on the same day, only a single contribution of up to £100 will be payable. All further travel, accommodation, meals and other associated costs are the sole responsibility of the winner. No additional expenses will be reimbursed by the Promoters in connection with any element of the prize.
10. ABOUT THE LIMITED-EDITION PROOF COVER
a) By entering the Competition, each entrant acknowledges that a proof cover is a preliminary version of a book's cover produced in advance of the publication date and used by publishers in the pre-publication marketing and promotion of a book.
b) Each entrant further acknowledges and accepts that:
(i) the proof cover that is the subject of this Competition is a special limited-edition version, distinct from both the published cover of Threads (which will appear on copies of the book available for sale) and other proof covers for Threads produced by Pan Macmillan in the ordinary course of publishing the book;
(ii) the purpose of the limited-edition proof cover is to celebrate the publication of Threads and to showcase the work of an emerging creative talent; and
(iii) the winner's proof cover will be printed in a limited print run of no fewer than 50 bound proof (early reading) copies of Threads and will be used by the Promoters in connection with the marketing and promotion of Threads in such manner as the Promoters consider appropriate.
c) The winner's name will be added to the prelims of the printed limited-edition proof.
11. COMMISSION TERMS
a) The winner will be commissioned to create the proof cover design under Pan Macmillan's standard terms for freelancers (the "Freelance Agreement"). A copy of the Freelance Agreement will be provided to the winner promptly following the winner's confirmation of acceptance under clause 7(b).
b) The winner must enter into the Freelance Agreement within seven (7) working days of it being provided pursuant to clause 11(a) above. Failure or refusal to do so within that period will be treated as a forfeiture of the prize in its entirety, and the Promoters reserve the right to select an alternative winner from the remaining shortlist.
c) Payment of the £500 commission fee is conditional upon the winner entering into and complying with the terms of the Freelance Agreement.
d) Intellectual property rights in the proof cover design will remain owned by the winner as the creating artist. Pan Macmillan will obtain a licence to use the design on the terms set out in the Freelance Agreement.
e) The prohibition on the use of generative AI technologies set out in clause 5 above applies equally to the proof cover design created pursuant to the commission and will be reflected in and enforceable under the terms of the Freelance Agreement.
f) The winner must be available from 1 July 2026 to 31 July 2026 to work on the proof cover design brief. The completed design must be delivered to Pan Macmillan by 31 July 2026.
12. USE OF PORTFOLIO SUBMISSIONS
a) By submitting an entry, each entrant grants the Promoters and the members of the judging panel a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, copy, store and share their submission solely for the purposes of administering and judging this Competition. No other rights in any submitted portfolio work are acquired by the Promoters or any other party by virtue of submission.
b) The Promoters will not publish or reproduce portfolio submissions or any part of them publicly without the prior written consent of the relevant entrant. Submission of a portfolio does not transfer ownership of any portfolio work to the Promoters or any other party.
13. WINNER INFORMATION
The winner's surname and county can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to: Paul Smith Memoir Design Competition, Pan Macmillan, The Smithson, 6 Briset Street, London, EC1M 5NR, 30 days after the closing date. If you object to any or all of your surname and/or county being made available, please inform the Promoters using these contact details and quoting the name of the Competition. In such circumstances, the Promoters must still provide the information to the Advertising Standards Authority on request. Please note that the inclusion of the winner's name in the prelims of the limited-edition proof cover forms part of the prize as described in clause 10(c).
14. DATA PROTECTION
All personal information processed in connection with your entry will be treated in accordance with Pan Macmillan's Privacy Notice, which is available at www.panmacmillan.com/panmac/privacy-notice. Where personal information is processed by Paul Smith's Foundation in connection with your entry, such processing will be carried out in accordance with Paul Smith's Foundation's Privacy Notice, which is available at https://www.paulsmithsfoundation.org/legal/. Entrants are encouraged to review these Privacy Notices carefully. See also clause 13 above with regard to the announcement of the winner.
15. GENERAL TERMS
a) The Promoters reserve the right to cancel or amend these Terms and Conditions or change the prize (to one of equal or greater value) as required by the circumstances, including where events occur that render the Competition itself, or the awarding of the prize, impossible due to reasons beyond the Promoters' control.
b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Promoters exclude all liability for any loss, damage, liabilities, cost, expense, injury or disappointment, whether direct or indirect, incurred or suffered by an entrant in connection with entering the Competition, accepting any prize, or participating in any element of the prize. All activities are undertaken at the entrant's own risk. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes the liability of either Promoter for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for death or personal injury resulting from its negligence. Your statutory rights as a consumer are not affected.
c) These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Disputes arising in connection with this Competition shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
16. CONTACT DETAILS
If you have any questions about the Competition or how to enter, please email: threadsdesigncompetition@macmillan.com