--- title: "CTD Card Design Challenge • The UTSA CIAS" description: "Community members, students and anyone over age 11 can share their knowledge – and passion – of cybersecurity by creating their own CTD card." language: "en-US" canonical_url: "https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/card-design-challenge/" source_url: "https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/card-design-challenge/" content_type: "text/markdown" --- # [CTD Card Design Challenge](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/card-design-challenge/) [ ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/) ### [ Cyber Threat Defender ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/) Collectible Card Game (Age 11+) [ Rules ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/rules/) [ Play online ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/play-online/) [ Tournaments ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/diy-tournament/) [ Design Challenge ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/ctd/card-design-challenge/) [ Classroom Resources ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/k-12/high-school-middle-school/) [ Sponsorships ](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/k-12/sponsorships/) **The 2026 Cyber Threat Defender (CTD) Design Your Own Card Challenge returns this October 1-31!** This year, any card type is being accepted! Interested in emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), or perhaps you’re interested in new cyber threats. Whatever interests you, we want to see it in a new asset, defense, event or attack card. It simply needs to connect to its role in cybersecurity.  Community members, students, and anyone over age 11 are welcome to participate. Past winners have seen their creations added to **Cyber Threat Defender: Digital,** and this year’s entries will continue that tradition—appearing in the digital game and potentially beyond. Check out previous winning cards below for inspiration, then start crafting your own design to help shape the next evolution of Cyber Threat Defender! ## About The CIAS will accept submissions for the 2026 Cyber Threat Defender Custom Card Challenge from October 1-31, 2026. Whether designing a defense, attack, asset or event card, you may enter only one card.  The top place finishers will also receive: - **First Place:** Four Cyber Threat Defender Starter Decks, two Booz Allen Booster Packs, two CrowdStrike Booster Packs, two Personnel Booster Packs, two Advanced Threat Booster Packs, two GulaTech Data Care Booster Packs, two Cyber Threat Defender game mats and more! - **Second Place:** Two Cyber Threat Defender Starter Decks, two Booz Allen Booster Packs, two CrowdStrike Booster Packs, two Personnel Booster Packs, two Advanced Threat Booster Packs, and two Cyber Threat Defender game mats - **Third Place:** Two Booz Allen Booster Packs, two CrowdStrike Booster Packs, two Personnel Booster Packs, two Advanced Threat Booster Packs, and two Cyber Threat Defender game mats ## Winners [ ![Graphic announcing CTD Card Design winners with original artwork displayed](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CTD-Contest-Winners_web.jpg) ](#winners) ![Original student design for Deepfake AI attack card for Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Deepfake-AI_Orginal_Octavia-Orta-809x1080.png) ![Octavia Orta](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1st-Octavia-Orta.png) ### Octavia Orta, 17 1st place winner 2025 ![Final artwork design for Deepfake AI attack card for Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Deepfake_AI_v1.png) ![Original student design for AI Script Kiddie attack card for Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AI-Script-Kiddie_Orginal-Card_Nader-Vasheghani-1-807x1080.png) ![Nader Vasheghani](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2nd_Nader-Vasheghani.png) ### Nader Vasheghani, 17 2nd place winner 2025 ![Final artwork design for AI Script Kiddie attack card for Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AI_Script_Kiddie_v1.png) ![Original student design of Automated Threat Hunter defense card for Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Automated-Threat-Hunting_Ever-Garcia.png) ### Ever Garcia, 16 3rd place winner 2025 ![Final artwork of Automated Threat Hunter defense card for Cyber Threat Defender card design contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Automated_Threat_Hunting_v1.png) ![](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Zero-Trust-Access-Guardian_Original-Card_Sylvia-McMillion-688x1080.png) ### Sylvia McMillion, 25 Honorable Mention 2025 ## 2024 ![Cameron Carroll](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CameronCarroll_photo.png) ### Cameron Carroll, 14 1st place winner 2024 [ ![Final design of the VPN defense card for the 2024 Cyber Threat Defender Design Card Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/VPN_v1.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2024/12/VPN_v1.png) ![Jakorey Robinson](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/JakoreyRobinson_photo.png) ### Jakorey Robinson, 14 2nd place winner 2024 [ ![Final design of the Man in the Middle attack card for the 2024 Cyber Threat Defender Design Card Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Man_in_the_Middle.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2024/12/Man_in_the_Middle.png) ![Damien Lafargue](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DamienLafargue_image.png) ### Damien Lafargue, 15 3rd place winner 2024 [ ![Final design of the Brute Force attack card for the 2024 Cyber Threat Defender Design Card Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brute_Force.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2024/12/Brute_Force.png) ## 2023 ![Andrew Flores](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Andrew-Flores_round.png) ### Andrew Flores, 16​ 1st place winner 2023 [ ![Final design of the Computer Warranty event card in the Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1st_Computer-Warranty_Andrew-Flores.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2023/11/1st_Computer-Warranty_Andrew-Flores.png) ![Sophia Tolly](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sophia-Tolly_round.png) ### Sophia Tolly, 16 2nd place winner 2023 [ ![Final design of the Second Monitor asset card in the Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2nd_Second-Monitor_Sophia-Tolly.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2023/11/2nd_Second-Monitor_Sophia-Tolly.png) ![Hector Beltran](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Hector-Beltran_circle.png) ### Hector Beltran, 17​ 3rd place winner 2023 [ ![Final design of the Cryptojacking Caper attack card in the Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/3rd_Hector-Beltran.png) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2023/11/3rd_Hector-Beltran.png) ## 2021 ![Janin Glaser](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/JaninGlaser_1.png) ### Janin Glaser, 13 1st place winner 2021 [ ![Downloading Cookies, Event card](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Downloading_Cookies_v1.webp) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2022/04/Downloading_Cookies_v1.webp) ![Jacob Peralta](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/JacobPeralta1.png) ### Jacob Peralta, 14 2nd place winner 2021 [ ![Adware Virus, Attack-Malware card](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Adware_Virus_v1.webp) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2022/04/Adware_Virus_v1.webp) ![Alsmadi](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/3rd-place_Alsmadi.png) ### Ahmad Alsmadi, 14 3rd place winner 2021 [ ![Botnet, Attack-Denial card](https://yoczw4a14t54p3l.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Botnet_v1.webp) ](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2022/04/Botnet_v1.webp) ## Judging This contest is judged by the Cyber Threat Defender game developers and CIAS staff. Cards are judged on: - **Theme:** How well the card fits within the year’s theme and its relevance to cybersecurity. - **Synergy:** Cards shouldn’t just be designed well, but they should play well in the game’s starter deck and other booster packs. Make sure you understand how your card plays well with others! - **Card Type Appropriateness:** Cards should properly represent the card type they’re in (i.e., Asset, Defense, Attack, Event). - **Rarity Appropriateness:** While card submissions are expected to be unique from existing cards (see [the full list of cards](https://cias.utsa.edu/ctd/deck/2020-starter/)), some cards may be duplicated for ultimate effects (e.g., an ISP Connection card allows for two Desktop Assets to attach to it). Feel free to include comments with your submission about the card’s rarity appropriateness. **Remember, both the card design and game mechanics (in other words, how well the card plays in the game) must be compatible with the Cyber Threat Defender Starter Deck. ## How to Enter Emailed submissions may be provided as PDF, JPEG, PNG or EPS files and can be sent to [cias@utsa.edu](mailto:cias@utsa.edu). Entries may also be submitted by mail to the contest office: Center for Infrastructure Assurance & Security Attn: Larry Sjelin One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249 Only one submission is accepted per person ages 11 and up. All entries, whether by email or mail, must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST, October 31, 2026. Submissions that do not include a completed entry form will not be accepted. All cards must include a custom design, point value, definition of card type in the real world and rules for how the card must be played in the game. Note:** The CIAS withholds the right to make any edits, corrections, updates to the winning design(s) of any card added to the Cyber Threat Defender inventory of cards within the Starter Deck, CTD: Digital or current/future booster packs. To enter, download and review/use the following forms: - [Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest Rules](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2025/09/2025-CTD-Card-Design-Contest-Rules.pdf) - Cyber Threat Defender Card Design Contest [Entry Form & Guidelines](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2025/09/CTD-Card-Contest-Details-2025.pdf) - Cyber Threat Defender [Card Template](https://cdn.getshifter.co/fd026a43ee1b7b095c768a9039a2a236c0a0d590/uploads/2025/09/CTD-Card-Template.pdf) (This template is optional. You may submit artwork and content in other formats.) The winning design(s) will be added to CTD Digital. Make sure to follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/cias.utsa), [Twitter/X](https://x.com/ciascybersec) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-infrastructure-assurance-and-security) to see the winning designs or download CTD Digital at [CyberThreatDefender.com](https://cias.utsa.edu/ctd/play-online/)! For more information or questions about the contest, please contact Julina Macy at [Julina.Macy@UTSA.edu.](mailto:Julina.Macy@UTSA.edu) Tagged card design template, collectible card game design challenge, cyber threat defender card challenge