We have officially opened registration for the 15th annual Emoti-Con NYC Digital Media & Technology Challenge. Submit your middle and high school projects by May 17th to be included in this city-wide competition.

Emoti-Con showcases youth who express themselves and reflect on the challenges facing our communities through creative making and digital storytelling at schools and informal learning programs across NYC.

What Kinds of Projects Are Eligible?

• Projects must be created by Middle school, High school, or GED students in the NYC metro region, working in teams or as individuals.

• Projects must represent an original idea, creative work or innovation in tech, media or design.

• All tech, digital media and design projects are welcome! These may be: Apps, websites, games, films, podcasts, animations, digital art pieces, interactive stories, physical computing prototypes, graphic design projects, VR/AR, 3D design, audio projects etc!

• Note: Prototypes and ‘imperfect’ projects welcome! Emoti-Con is about sharing ideas and getting feedback from peers and professionals. Projects do not have to be finished projects to join

• Projects must be submitted by an adult - either program staff or parents.

Why Participate?

Connect with Peers & Professionals

• Last year, over 750 teen creators from schools and youth organizations across NYC presented 194 projects – our largest turn-out ever!

• Each project receives personal feedback from several professional mentors in the tech, media & design community - last year we had over 75 participating mentors from places like Microsoft, Google, Youtube and more!

• “Getting real feedback from real professionals during Emoti-con made me realize that maybe this was more than just a school project, and something I could actually pursue.” - Mickell, former Emoti-Con participant, and current game designer and Emoti-con Judge.

Celebrate & Document Student Achievement!

• Emoti-Con is a chance for us to celebrate and showcase the innovations & ideas of teens across NYC.

• Each project will be published and have its own webpage. Students can share their project page with parents, friends and mentors who can leave 👏 Emojis 👏 of encouragement and kudos on their work. Check out some examples at last year’s Emoti-con here!

• 🏆There will be prizes! 🏆

Project Fair Schedule

• 5/1-5/17: Submit projects online on the Virtual Emoti-Con site

• 5/22: Virtual Project Fair Begins

• 6/2: Last day of Project Fair

• 6/9: Award Ceremony - winners announcement

• 6/13: Emoti-Con Live Career Connection Networking Event

  • This year, we are holding a special in-person event at Microsoft HQ Tuesday, June 13th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Spaces are limited! If you are interested in joining, please reach out to emoticon@mouse.org

Need help submitting your projects?

1. Review the 2023 Emoti-Con Project Fair Guide: Get all of the details and resources you will need to create and submit your project.

2. (Optional) Complete the Emoti-Con Project Application Worksheet: This worksheet has every question from the application so you and your students can prepare your responses before filling out the live form.

3. Get Live Support: Emoti-Con has a few volunteer educators who can work with you and your students to get a project ready for the Project Fair. Email us (Emoticon@mouse.org) and we will schedule a time to meet online.

The Emoti-Con Steering Committee, Supporters & Sponsors

Emoti-Con is the largest event of its kind amongst informal learning programs in New York City. Emoti-Con addresses the need for cross-institutional collaboration and provides the much-needed venue for youth to get to connect through their common identity as youth media producers and technologists.

Steering Committee

The event has been developed through a unique collaboration between youth designers, an alumni committee and NYC youth-serving organizations from the Hive NYC Learning Network who form the Emoti-Con Steering Committee: Code Nation, DreamYard, Global Kids, and Mouse.