New York Holds Contest for Condom Packaging Design

The New York City Health Department announced that it will be holding a contest for the packaging design of condoms that it gives free annually.

The city hands out free condoms annually to promote to New Yorkers safe sex and lower the city’s cases for unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“This is every New Yorker’s chance to help convey that message,” the department said. Last year, the city handed out 40 million pieces.

Interested parties must be at least 17 years old to enter the contest. Deadline of entries is on January 22, 2010. Finalists will be shown by February in the website of the NYC health department and on its Facebook account. Meanwhile, until the contest finds a winner, the condoms being distributed will still use the current wrapping (pictured).

The requirements and criteria include originality, capture the city’s culture, promote safe sex, can’t be sexually explicit, cannot be racy and cannot include any copyrighted or trademarked images.