Single Cell Sock Design Competition 2026

Single Cell Sock Design Competition 2026

Calling all scientists, researchers and students! It’s time to put your imagination to work in our first ever sock design competition! Create a unique sock design inspired by the world of single cell, and stand a chance to see your design brought to life as an official Singleron sock!

You may be wondering, why socks? 🧦

Why not socks? Great science deserves great socks. Whether it’s cells, sequencing, data visualizations or big discoveries, we are looking for creative designs that celebrate the wonders of single cell science.

SO…WHAT’S THE PRIZE?

The winning designer will receive 7 pairs of their very own custom-designed socks. That’s right, a pair for every day of the week! 🧦

DESIGN CRITERIA:
Use any technique and your imagination to design a pair of socks that is inspired by single cell science. You can draw, paint, go digital, whatever works.

• The color scheme is limited to 5 colors, with a requirement to include at least, but not limited to 1 color from Singleron’s branding color (color selection can be found in the template).
• Avoid complex & small details or gradients as these are quite difficult to translate onto a sock.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• The competition will run from 1 November 2026 to 15 December 2026 (23:59 GMT+1).
• Singleron will announce the winner on the 31st of December 2026 via LinkedIn.
  Please use the template provided.

WHO CAN APPLY:

• Applicants must be affiliated with a research institution, university, or graduate school.
• Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.
• Entries are open to applicants worldwide.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Applicants should submit their designs via the form at the end of the page.
• Files (pdf, jpg, jpeg, png) should be attached along with the form before submission by 15 December 2026 (23:59 GMT+1).
• One applicant can submit up to 3 designs.

OUR JUDGING PROCESS:

• Our marketing team at Singleron will review all submissions and select up to 10 finalist designs that best capture the spirit of single cell science, creativity and wearability.
• The finalists’ designs will be featured in a LinkedIn voting post, where the community gets to decide the winner.
• To ensure a fair voting process, finalists’ information will not be displayed alongside the designs.
• The design that receives the highest number of votes by end of the voting period will be crowned the Single Cell Sock Master!

Frequently Asked Questions

If I submit a design, will Singleron own the rights to it?

• No, we don’t own the rights to the entered designs, unless the design won the competition.
• Once the winner is chosen, we will contact the winner before moving forward with production.
• By submitting the design, applicants accept that in case of winning, the design’s copyright is automatically transferred to Singleron Biotechnologies GmBH. Singleron Biotechnologies GmBH will become a legal owner of the unlimited copyright to the final version of the winning design. There is no additional compensation to the winner beyond the prize.

Can I design socks with 2 different base colors?
Yes, however do try to avoid gradient base colors as it’s difficult to translate during production.

Can I include Singleron’s mascot in the design?
Yes, you can definitely include SIMON (Single Cell Multi-Omics Navigator) into your sock design.

Terms and Conditions

An entry must be original and created by the applicant specifically for this competition. By entering, an applicant guarantees that their designs do not infringe any copyrights or other interests of third parties.

Once the LinkedIn poll has been closed and the winner has been finalized, the decision will be final, and no appeals will be accepted.

The winning design will become the intellectual property of Singleron Biotechnologies GmBH and Singleron Biotechnologies GmBH will hold the unlimited copyright to it.

Singleron Biotechnologies GmBH owns the right to all imagery and photoshoot assets. Prizes cannot be exchanged into cash or other form of services.

Need some Inspiration? Check out our Past Designs!

Heatmap Socks

Perfect heatmaps, every time.

One Mood Per Well

Big SIMONs rising out of a bead-packed chip, each with its own mood.

Running on Cells

For scientists who run on cells (and actually go running too).

Lemons, Dissociated

When life gives you lemons, make single cells.

Keep Going to Achieve your Goal

SIMON persevering and conquering that pullup bar – never give up.

PBMC Cellular Composition

A stacked chart you can wear: each stripe’s thickness matches the share of a PBMC cell type.