Request for Proposals: LAcon V Hugo Base
Each year the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) is tasked with administering and awarding the Hugo Awards for Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Since its inception in 1953, the award has prominently featured a rocket. The Hugo Awards have become unique among awards in that most of the bases since L.A.con II (1984) have been original designs that highlight and celebrate each individual Worldcon.
LAcon V is soliciting submissions for a base design for the Hugo Awards that celebrates science fiction’s sense of adventure and what makes LAcon V and Southern California special as both a Worldcon and location. We welcome all submissions.
The Basics
- The winning base design becomes the property of LAcon V.
- The winning artist will be responsible for the construction and delivery of a minimum of 40 completed bases to LAcon V in Anaheim, CA no later than August 21, 2026.
- Bases must stand on their own and may not use any copyrighted or trademarked material or working mechanical or electronic parts. (See The Details below for more information).
- The rocket must be an integral part of the award and be the most prominent feature.
- There must be a place at least 6.5 square inches on the front/top of the base for placement of an engraved, metal plaque.
- Any and all information regarding the selected design and its artist will be released only by LAcon V as the convention committee decides.
If you are interested in submitting a design (and we hope you are), please read on for detailed instructions.
The Details
The selected artist and design must meet the following requirements, timeline, and budget. If there are any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact the Hugo Base Design Committee at HugoBase@LAcon.org. We want to do everything we can to help you submit an exciting and creative design.
Artist Requirements
- Must be able to deliver a minimum of 40 completed bases to LAcon V in Anaheim, CA by August 21, 2026.
- Should include in the proposed budget the cost for materials, labor, packing supplies, and shipping of the completed bases to LAcon V.
- Should be willing and able to construct additional bases after the convention, if necessary, and for the same cost per base, including shipping and packing materials. This timeline to be negotiated, but ideally delivery should be completed within six (6) months after the close of the convention.
- It is desirable, but not necessary, that the artist be present at LAcon V to participate in the unveiling of the base and perform minor repairs in case of accidental damage.
- Will include one correct tool for each base, for attaching the rocket to the base. (Awards may be shipped or transported unassembled to recipients with the tool.) Depending on the design, a basic repair kit (such as extra screws, or extra “bits”) may be requested.
Design Requirements
- Bases must be able to sit on a flat surface and be self supporting. (No designs that hang or are designed for zero-g.)
- All materials used for the base need to be stable over the course of many years under normal conditions.
- Design should have no working mechanical or electronic components. Any protruding parts should be affixed permanently and securely to the base and be able to withstand reasonable handling and shipping.
- Design may not contain any copyrighted or trademarked material EXCEPT those items owned/licensed by the World Science Fiction Society and LAcon V.
- A space suitable to affix a metal plaque containing several lines of text (exact dimensions will vary based on base design but a minimum of 6.5 square inches is needed) must be present for attachment of a plaque on the front/top of the base. Any finishes or materials which may not respond well to an adhesive must not be present in that area. (LAcon V will provide and attach the plaques unless otherwise proposed.)
- If the artist proposes to create a plaque design complementary to their base design, this must be negotiated prior to the awarding of the design, and the artist will be required to sign an NDA regarding the Hugo Award winners and mask the plaques so they may not be read before being awarded. The artist must be able to produce and attach all the required plaques in less than 14 days.
- The rocket will be supplied by LAcon V. It must be an integral part of the award and be the most prominent feature. The area of attachment for the rocket must be easily accessible for assembly at LAcon V. (The specs can be found here.)
- The design must take into account that the awards will be either disassembled to be shipped to recipients or taken home in suitcases. Custom boxes which can be used to ship the awards that hold the base and rocket separately are ideal and should be provided by the artist or specifications given to LAcon V in a timely manner so that they are available to the winners at LAcon V.
- Generative AI may not be used in the design and creation of any base submitted to this contest
Budget
LAcon V will pay a maximum of $300 per base. This covers materials, labor, packing, shipping and shipping insurance of the bases. Unless otherwise proposed, LAcon V will supply and attach the plaques.
If the artist proposes to supply the plaques, additional funds may be negotiated with LAcon V prior to awarding of the Design.
Timeline
- Submissions Open: Immediately (October 20, 2025)
- Submissions Close: December 31, 2025
- Requested Followup Information Due: January 31, 2026
- Final Decision Made: No later than February 15, 2026
- Bases Due in LA: No later than August 21, 2026
The Small Print
- By submitting a design, the artist agrees to all rules, guidelines, deadlines, obligations, and the Small Print.
- All submissions become the property of LAcon V upon receipt. After the convention, ownership of all non-winning designs will revert back to the artists.
- Any extra (non-awarded) bases will be owned by LAcon V.
- Any and all information regarding the chosen design and artist may be made public only by LAcon V at the time and in the manner of its choosing. The artist is free to record and document the development and production of their design and/or base, but may not release any information, in any form, until a time agreed to by LAcon V.
- Artists agree to adhere to the LAcon V Policies and Code of Conduct.
How To Enter
Please email a statement of interest, with your name and contact information to: hugobase@LAcon.org. You will be sent an email with specifics on how to submit your design. Full details of the required information will be sent in the responding email but will include items such as drawings, dimensions, and materials.
All necessary information must be received no later than December 31, 2025.
