In one sentence
South Korea's Labor Foundation is running a free AI character design contest from July 1–31, 2026, and you can enter using Notion AI or any other creative tool—no prior experience needed.
---
Why this matters to you
You've probably scrolled past AI contests before and thought, "That's not for me." But here's the thing: this one is different. The foundation isn't asking for professional designers or AI experts. They're asking for your ideas, your creativity, and proof of which AI tools you used to bring them to life.
If you've been curious about Notion AI (the writing and brainstorming assistant built into Notion) or other AI design tools, this contest gives you a real reason to experiment with zero financial risk. You get to learn by doing, and there's a deadline that actually motivates you to finish something.
By the end of this post, you'll know exactly what to submit, which tools work best for character creation, and how to write the prompts (detailed instructions you give to AI) that make your ideas come alive.
---
The 3-minute version
✅ Contest runs July 1–31, 2026 — one month to create and submit
✅ Open to anyone; no portfolio or professional experience required
✅ You must submit: an application form + an AI usage record showing which tools and prompts you used
✅ Notion AI, ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o), Flux, and Midjourney are all eligible tools
✅ The "AI usage record" is the secret sauce — it's where you explain your creative process
✅ Free to enter; no entry fee mentioned in official guidelines
✅ Hosted by South Korea's Labor Foundation (노사발전재단) under the Ministry of Employment and Labor
---
Understand the contest in 5 minutes
What you're actually entering
This isn't a traditional art competition. The foundation wants to see *how you used AI* to create a character, not just the final result. Think of it like showing your homework: you need to prove your thinking process.
You'll design a character—it could be a mascot, a brand ambassador, a game character, or anything visual. Then you'll document which AI tools helped you (Notion AI for brainstorming, ChatGPT Image for visual concepts, Flux for refinement, etc.) and what exact prompts you typed into each one.
The two-part submission
There are two pieces you need to submit:
**Part 1: Application Form**
This is standard stuff—your name, contact info, maybe a brief description of your character idea. Nothing scary here.
**Part 2: AI Usage Record (the important one)**
This is a document where you list:
- The name of each AI tool you used (e.g., "Notion AI", "ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o)", "Flux 1.0")
- The core prompts you entered (the exact text or a summary of what you asked the AI to do)
- How each tool helped you in your creative process
For example, you might write: "Used Notion AI to brainstorm character personality traits. Prompt: 'Create a friendly robot mascot for a tech startup focused on sustainability. List 5 personality traits, 3 color palettes, and 2 visual style references.' Then used ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o) to generate initial visual concepts based on those traits."
Why the AI record matters
The foundation is interested in how AI is reshaping creative work. By documenting your process, you're helping them understand how people actually use these tools in real projects. It also levels the playing field—everyone has to show their work, so it's not about who has the fanciest software.
---
The full story: How to win this contest
Step 1: Pick your character concept (Days 1–3)
Don't overthink this. Your character should be something you genuinely care about. A few ideas:
- A mascot for a local business or cause
- A fantasy creature for a story you're writing
- A brand ambassador for a product you love
- A video game NPC (non-player character)
- An educational character for teaching kids
Write down 2–3 sentences about who this character is, what they do, and why they matter.
Step 2: Use Notion AI to brainstorm (Days 4–7)
Notion AI is a writing assistant that lives inside Notion (a workspace app). If you don't have Notion yet, sign up free at notion.so. Then:
1. Open Notion and create a new page called "Character Brainstorm"
2. Click the "Ask AI" button (or type "/ai")
3. Type a prompt like: "I'm designing a character called [Name]. They are [brief description]. Generate 10 unique personality traits, 5 visual characteristics, and 3 backstory ideas."
4. Notion AI will generate ideas in seconds
5. Save the output and note the exact prompt you used
This is your first AI tool documented. Write it down in a separate "AI Usage Record" document.
Step 3: Create visual concepts (Days 8–20)
Now you need actual images. You have several free or affordable options:
**ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o)** — Part of ChatGPT Plus ($20/month). Upload photos or sketches, and it refines them. Good for iterating on designs.
**Flux** — Free tier available at flux.ai. Fast, high-quality image generation. No subscription required for limited daily generations.
**Midjourney** — $10/month starter plan. Excellent for stylized, polished character art. (Confirm latest pricing on the official Midjourney pricing page.)
**Leonardo.AI** — Free tier with credits. Good for game-style characters.
Pick one (or combine 2–3). For each tool, save the prompt you used. Example:
"Prompt for Flux: 'A cheerful octopus character, cartoon style, holding a paintbrush, soft pastel colors, friendly expression, suitable for a children's app mascot.'"
Step 4: Refine and document (Days 21–28)
Take your best 3–5 character designs and pick your favorite. You can use Notion AI again to write a character description:
"Prompt: 'Write a 100-word character profile for [Character Name]. Include personality, skills, likes, dislikes, and one unique quirk.'"
Save everything. By day 28, you should have:
- 1 final character design (image)
- A character profile (text)
- A list of all AI tools used
- The exact prompts for each tool
Step 5: Submit (Days 29–31)
Fill out the application form with your character and contact details. Attach your AI Usage Record. Submit before July 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (check the official contest page for timezone).
---
Common mix-ups
"Do I need to use Notion AI specifically?"
No. Notion AI is just one option. The contest accepts any AI tool—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Flux, Midjourney, Leonardo, or even a combination. The foundation wants to see *which tools you chose and why*, not that you used a specific one.
"Can I use free AI tools, or do I have to pay?"
Free tools are fine. Flux, Leonardo.AI's free tier, and free ChatGPT all work. You don't need a paid subscription to enter. However, if you want more advanced features (like ChatGPT Image for photo editing or Midjourney's premium styles), you'd need to pay. Check AI Deals Hub for discount codes on paid tools if you decide to upgrade.
"What if my character design isn't 'professional' enough?"
This isn't a judging criteria. The contest is about showing how you used AI creatively, not about having a polished portfolio. A rough sketch that you iterated on with AI prompts is just as valid as a sleek, finished design—maybe more interesting, because you're showing your process.
"Do I need to be Korean to enter?"
The official guidelines don't explicitly state a country restriction, but the contest is hosted by a South Korean foundation. Check the official contest page or contact them directly to confirm eligibility if you're outside South Korea.
---
What I'd actually do
If I were entering this contest in 2026, here's my game plan:
**Week 1:** Brainstorm a character using Notion AI (free, integrated, quick). Spend 2 hours max. Pick the idea that excites me most.
**Week 2:** Generate 5 visual concepts using Flux (free tier). Write a different prompt for each one. Pick the best 2.
**Week 3:** Refine those 2 designs using ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o) or another tool. Document every single prompt I used—this is your competitive edge.
**Week 4:** Write a character profile using Notion AI. Submit everything with a clean, organized AI Usage Record that shows I understood *why* I chose each tool.
The goal isn't perfection. It's showing thoughtful, intentional use of AI as a creative partner. That's what the foundation is evaluating.
---
FAQ
Do I need to enter my credit card to use Notion AI?
Notion has a free plan, so no credit card required to start. Notion AI is a paid add-on ($10/month), but you can try Notion's free features first. If you want to skip Notion AI, use free alternatives like ChatGPT's free tier or Flux instead.
What if I don't have any AI experience?
That's actually fine—this contest is designed for people learning to use AI tools. Your AI Usage Record should show your learning journey. Write down what you tried, what worked, and what you'd do differently. Judges will appreciate the honesty and effort.
Can I use multiple AI tools for one character?
Absolutely. In fact, that's encouraged. You might use Notion AI for brainstorming, Flux for initial designs, and ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o) for refinement. Just document each tool and its prompt in your AI Usage Record. This shows versatility and deeper understanding of the AI ecosystem.
When do winners get announced?
The official contest page should list the judging timeline and announcement date. Typically, foundations announce winners 2–4 weeks after the submission deadline. Check the official Ministry of Employment and Labor page or the Labor Foundation's website for updates.
---
Next steps
1. **Sign up for Notion** (free) at notion.so if you don't have an account yet. Explore the free features for a week.
2. **Pick your character idea** and write 2–3 sentences describing it. Don't overthink—just something you'd enjoy creating.
3. **Test one AI tool** this week. Use Notion AI, Flux, or ChatGPT to brainstorm or generate one image. Save your prompt. This is low-pressure practice.
4. **Bookmark the official contest page** (from the Ministry of Employment and Labor / 노사발전재단) and check it weekly for updates or clarifications.
5. **Join an AI community** (Reddit's r/aiart, Discord servers for Midjourney or Flux) to see what others are creating and ask questions. You'll learn faster and stay motivated.
6. **Look for discount codes** on AI Deals Hub if you decide to upgrade to paid tools like ChatGPT Plus or Midjourney. Many offer first-month discounts.
---
Conclusion
This July 2026 AI Character Contest is a rare opportunity to experiment with creative AI tools without pressure or cost. You're not competing against professional designers—you're showing how you think and create with AI as a collaborator. Start with Notion AI or any free tool, document your process honestly, and submit something you're proud of. The worst that happens? You learn new skills and have a portfolio piece. The best? You win recognition for your creativity and understanding of modern AI workflows. Either way, you'll have spent a month learning tools that are reshaping creative work across industries. That's worth the effort.
---
Related AI tools to explore
If you're interested in character creation and design, also check out:
- **Claude (Anthropic)** — Free tier available; excellent for detailed character writing and worldbuilding
- **Midjourney** — Specializes in stylized, high-quality character art ($10/month starter plan)
- **Leonardo.AI** — Free tier with credits; great for game-style characters and rapid iteration
- **ChatGPT (OpenAI)** — Free tier for brainstorming; ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) includes ChatGPT Image (GPT-4o) for visual refinement