It's true we challenge our designers to deliver their best. But we want designers to deliver the product of their best concept, sketching, iterating and research. This is why we provide the creative brief one week in advance. The adult diapers we leave to you.

Yes, it's a competition, so no half-steppin'. But if you're in the tournament, you're already winning(!). Studios, agencies and brands will be at the show watching your moves and looking to hire the best talent. Your portfolio and phone will blow up.

That said, be prepared to give a show. The audience, and your future clients, want to see not only your work. They want to see how you work, your style and your personality. Bring stuff to toss out to the audience. Get them involved in your design. Incorporating props, costumed friends and social media requests mid-round are a few past methods of making connections. Make the most of the stage we provide, even if you do this at work everyday.

You have a life, deadlines at work and maybe even a family. Procrastination is an art-form perfected by some designers. Sadly, that will not help you in this competition. Don't forget there is more to your performance than your design. How will you connect with the judges and audience? Again, get your audience involved in your design.

Many designers before you have asked, "You want me to do what in 15 minutes??!!"

It's true, we challenge our designers to deliver their best under pressure. But they rise to that challenge by employing techniques and training we share with them before the tournament. This year, we share them with you to be your best at our qualifiers. The section above will provide you tips, techniques, and training that will boost your game to help you qualify and kill it at your tournament. The good news, at the qualifiers, you get to safely try Cut&Paste and find out.

Yes, it's a competition. But we have a strict no-asshole policy when we select competitors. This is partly why we have qualifiers. In addition to seeing your skills, you see we're not assholes, we see you're not an asshole, and you see that the other designers are not assholes. This is why many of our competitors keep in touch after the show and many end up working together.If you make it to Global Champs, you will meet some of the world's most incredible people and design's rising stars. It results in great collaborators, real Facebook friends and places to crash when you travel. Seriously.