Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Brooklyn Arts Ambassador Colm Dillane, founder of KidSuper, have launched the 2027 Brooklyn Pin Design Competition, inviting Brooklyn residents and students attending K-12 schools in the borough to submit original designs by Dec. 6, 2026, at 11:59pm.
The competition is open to Brooklyn residents and nonresident students enrolled in K-12 schools in Brooklyn. Participants of all ages may enter, but minors must obtain consent from a parent or guardian.
Reynoso and Dillane will select one winning design and the Borough President’s Office will work with the artist on any changes needed for production.
“The Brooklyn Pin is an opportunity for someone in our borough to put their own stamp on a tradition that has represented Brooklyn pride for decades,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Last year, we saw that tradition take on new life through the creativity of a young high school student and I can’t wait to see what Brooklyn comes up with next. Whether you’re a student, an artist, or someone with a great idea and a whole lot of Brooklyn pride, we want to see your vision for the 2027 Brooklyn Pin.”
The winning design will be unveiled at the Borough President’s 2027 State of the Borough address, where attendees will be the first to receive the limited-edition pin.
The competition continues a borough tradition popularized by former Borough President Marty Markowitz, who distributed gold pins featuring the word Brooklyn in lettering associated with the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. The latest edition gives local artists and students an opportunity to contribute their own interpretation of the borough’s identity and culture.
The initiative follows the 2026 pin designed by South Brooklyn resident Mellina Melezhik. Her design drew inspiration from the New York City subway system, featuring graffiti-style lettering that reflected the communities and culture that shape Brooklyn. Dillane, who became the borough’s inaugural Arts Ambassador in 2025, has worked with Reynoso to bring new creative perspectives to the pin tradition.
Entries must be original, and the use of artificial intelligence is prohibited. Designs must include legible text identifying Brooklyn, with variations such as BK and BKLYN permitted. Submissions must also be appropriate and free of offensive language or imagery.
Artists should account for the production size, which is approximately 1.29 to 1.49 inches wide. Entries must be submitted in one of the accepted file formats, including PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, JPEG, PNG, EPS, SVG or Adobe Illustrator.
Applicants can review the guidelines and submit their designs at https://www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov/2027-pin-design-competition/ by the Dec. 6 deadline.
