Enter the Bailey Lauerman Diversity Design Challenge for the chance to have your design installed as a mural in Andersen Hall and earn a $1,000 scholarship to continue your studies at Nebraska.
Open to all undergraduate majors at CoJMC graduating no sooner than May 2025.
About the contest
Nebraska’s Bailey Lauerman, a full-service creative agency, is sponsoring a design competition for any students enrolled at the CoJMC. This unique challenge provides students with an opportunity to showcase their design skills, earn a scholarship and have their work displayed in Andersen Hall for one academic year.
Registration is required to participate. Participants will have two weeks to design a mural for the south wall of the Bailey Lauerman Student Commons (located on the third floor of Andersen Hall) that celebrates the power of diversity in Nebraska. The mural must be true to the theme, visually appealing and appropriate for an academic setting. Participants can submit a static or motion design.
Finalists will present their designs to a panel of professional judges from Bailey Lauerman. The winner of the competition will work with the agency's creative team to finalize their design and get it ready for installation.
Competition Schedule:
- Monday, Oct. 20 at 11:59 p.m.
- Deadline to register
- Thursday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m.
- Challenge kickoff (not required if participant has class)
- Tuesday, Nov. 4
- Projects are due and sent to the BL team for finalist selection
- Wednesday, Nov. 5
- Finalists are announced
- Thursday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m.
- Finalists pitch to BL team in person
Additional Information
Eligibility
The contest is open to all CoJMC undergraduate majors who:
- Are in good academic standing
- Have at least one semester remaining before graduation
There are no pre-requisite courses or experience needed to compete, but students must complete their design individually.
Technical Requirements
- Students must register to participate by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20
- Attend the kickoff meeting (optional) on Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. in Andersen Hall to review contest rules
- Participants will receive an InDesign file that meets the required size specifications
- Participants should use the provided file to create their design
- Designs must be submitted by Tuesday, Nov. 4
- Instructions for submitting designs will be provided to participants by the contest organizers
Judging criteria
Judges will review each participant’s digital submission based on the following criteria:
- Specifications - Does the design meet the required specifications for the brief, including, but not limited to, size, scale and technical submission?
- Innovation- Does the design stand out and provide something new to the space?
- Design Principles - Does the design demonstrate fundamental principles in form, shape, color and finish?
- Impact - Does the design deliver the intended message to viewers and work both static and in motion?
- Takeaway - In addition to fulfilling its practical purpose, does the design create a meaningful, emotional response?
About the prize
The winning design will be installed as a wall wrap in the Bailey Lauerman Student Commons for the following academic year. The winning designer will receive a scholarship of $1,000 applied directly to their student account for spring 2026, upon completion of the design project. The award cannot be carried forward to future semesters. The winner must also remain a major within the college and with good standing during the spring 2026 semester.
The Judges
Registration is now open and will close Monday, Oct. 20
Contest Rules
- If selected as a finalist, participants must be available to present their designs at the showcase on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m.
- Entries must be the sole and original work of the entrant. Instructors can assign the competition theme in class and entrants can use the assignment as an entry.
- Finalists must present their work to the judges. Each finalist will have two minutes to present. The judges will have the opportunity to ask questions following each presentation. The judges will select one winner and decisions are final.
- By submitting the entry form, entrants are agreeing to grant the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, its component campuses, its representatives, employees, agents and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use, reproduce and publish, royalty-free, submitted photographs for editorial, trade, advertising or any other purpose and in any manner and medium; to alter the same without restriction. Entrants release the University of Nebraska, its component campuses and its Regents, officers, employees, agents, legal representatives and assign from any and all claims, actions and liability related to its use of said photographs.
- All entrants hold the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, its component campuses, its representatives, employees, agents and assigns (the University) harmless from and against all claims of any nature arising in connection with entrant's participation in the contest and acceptance of the prize. The University is not liable for any costs, damages, injuries, or other claims incurred as a result of entrants' participation in the contest or winner's acceptance and usage of a prize. The university is not responsible for incomplete or misdirected entries, technical or network malfunctions or failures, or causes beyond their control.
- The university reserves the right to cancel or modify the rules at its discretion. In the event of a dispute regarding the winners, the university reserves the right to award or not award the prize in its sole discretion. The university reserves the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to: inhibit the enjoyment of others; tamper with the competition; violate the rules or other applicable law or regulations; infringes on the rights of third parties; or act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Decisions of the university are final and binding.
- The contest, entrant submission and the rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nebraska. Any aspects or disputes arising out of or in connection with the contest and/or entrant submissions will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nebraska courts.