Currently I think some major points get missed by players (mostly newer ones, but not only them) because of the way the rules are set up/worded? So they could perhaps be jiggled a bit so that those points are more evident? This is a thought that has been floating around our brain for months.

Official rules (1, 2, and 3)
"1. Navigate to the Generator, select a species of your choice and then choose various colors for your design. Once done, post your design(s) here in this thread. Please only post one entry per species and try and keep everything to one post. You can also make sure that submitted images are sized to 250 (&size=250) to prevent designs being too small or too large.

Visit Themed Pet Codex to View Existing Official Themed Pets

Guide on How to Create and Share Designs

2. All designs submitted must be Winter Themed. This means anything to do with the season, such as any holidays that occur within the season, weather, etc. Players can use any available Traits to showcase their design. However, players should be mindful that their designs need to look good against various Trait options, not just the Traits they are showcasing.

3. All submitted designs must have been made by the poster. Please do not use other players' designs. It is both disrespectful and if we see someone posting other player's designs, you will be disqualified from this contest and receive a Forum Strike. To clarify, a Design does not equate to a Theme. Multiple players can submit, say, a "Pumpkin Lupora", as long as each player designed their own version.
..."

to something perhaps more like

"Visit Themed Pet Codex to View Existing Official Themed Pets
Guide to Theme Design Contests

1. Navigate to the Generator, select any species of your choice and then choose various colors for your design. Once done, post your design(s) here in this thread.
Your submissions must use the sylestia pet image urls.
Submitted images should preferably be sized to 250px by having the &size=250 modifier at the end of the pet image url, to prevent designs being too small or too large.

2. Only one design per species.
"Design" in terms of theme design contests refers specifically to the color palette that forms the basis of a Theme. Multiple players can submit, say, a pumpkin-inspired lupora design, as long as each player created their own unique palette.
Players can use any Traits to showcase their design(s). However, they should be mindful that the design need to look good with various Trait options, not just the Traits used to showcase the design, as themed pets can have any traits. Multiple example images using different traits can be used for a submitted design, but the palette used must be the same across all images of that species.

3. Designs submitted should be Themed in relation to the festival's Season. This means things such as holidays that occur within the season, weather, activities, etc.

4. All submitted designs must have been made by the poster. Please do not use other players' designs. It is both disrespectful and if we see someone posting other player's designs, you will be disqualified from this contest and receive a Forum Strike.

5. The contest is intended for selecting new Wild, Regular Exclusive, and Fabled Exclusive themes, not Majestics.
..."


- Breaks up the "how to" instructions from the species limit

- Adds in an explanation in speculative rule 2 of what is meant by "design" in relation to the contests, shifting and rewording the piece from the end of official rule 3.

- With the current version, the fact that it's one design per species is... very lost in the first rule and I think incredibly easy to miss.

- Clarifies that images must use the sylestia image url, not an off-site image host.

- Takes the "any traits/show off how they work" thing and incorporates it into the clarification on what is meant by 'design' and expands a bit on it.

- Includes clarification that the contests aren't so much for selecting Majestic themes.

Just us shaking thoughts around, but figure it's worth a mention?
Other people might have their own thoughts on rewording (I know I can get a bit verbose in my guides, but I think I kept the suggested changes at least somewhat concise while also clarifying and expanding a bit? I don't know how well I succeeded, but it's an attempt)