TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Debian Invites Artists to Design Artwork for Upcoming Forky Release
WHY IT MATTERS
This contest highlights Debian’s community-driven ethos, offering artists a platform to influence the visual identity of a widely used open‑source operating system.
What happened
The Debian Linux project has announced a call for community artwork submissions ahead of the release of Debian 14, codenamed Forky. Artists can submit designs for the boot screens, login prompts, and desktop wallpapers that will be seen by millions of users.
The deadline for entries is November 26. Submissions must feel distinctly “Debian,” integrate without requiring core software changes, and remain visually appealing over time.
Debian’s previous release, Debian 13 Trixie, featured Elise Couper’s “Ceratopsian” artwork, a nod to the Toy Story triceratops. The team warns against overly busy designs that could cause user fatigue, but encourages creative incorporation of Forky’s googly eyes for a chance to win the default wallpaper spot.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Your artwork could be featured in the next Debian release
Ars Technica · Nick Indge · Discovery only; Condé Nast copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 9, 2026, 7:00 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 9, 2026, 7:00 PM