https://www.ucda.com/designawards/
UCDA Design Awards
For more than 50 years, the UCDA Design Awards has recognized the best of exceptional design and creative work as part of our mission to promote design excellence, support educational institutions, and drive the exchange of ideas and information relating to the unique role creatives play in education and the world.
The UCDA Design Awards are judged by a hand-picked panel of jurors composed of designers, design educators, photographers, and videographers working in or doing a significant portion of their work for educational institutions—they understand the environments in which you create.
Winning entries will be part of the UCDA Design Show on display during the 56th annual UCDA Design Conference. The conference provides an opportunity to get an in-depth look at the issues facing designers and communication professionals—both in and out of educational institutions—and gain inspiration for better collaboration. The 2026 Design Conference will take place in the fall, with the location and date to be announced soon.
Entries in all categories will be judged based on the image/digital file provided during the submission process. No physical copies will be accepted with your entry. However, award winners in all print categories will be required to send a physical sample of their entry to be displayed in the UCDA Design Awards Show.
Congratulations to the 2025 UCDA Design Award winners!
Our judges evaluated 773 entries and selected 195 award winners—including 19 Gold Awards, 61 Silver Awards and 115 Awards of Excellence—as well as 41 Honorable Mentions.
View the Gallery of Winning Work
Design Awards Highlights
- Peer-reviewed by judges who understand the environments in which you create.
- 85 categories across four competitions: Design (Print & Digital), Photography, Student, and Video.
- Lower entry fees for those who enter early and/or for UCDA members.
- One entry fee for single or series entries.
- Winners receive Awards of Gold, Silver, or Excellence.
- Presentation of awards will be at the 2026 UCDA Design Conference.
- Winning entries become part of the UCDA Design Collection.
Who is eligible?
Entries may be submitted by any institution, company, or individual involved in the creation or production of the work.
You do not need to be a member of UCDA to enter (although members receive discounted entry fees). Non-members may join UCDA and take advantage of reduced entry fees prior to entering.
What is eligible?
Any work designed, published, created, or used by an educational institution is eligible (not limited to higher education).
Work completed or published for the first time between June 1, 2025–June 1, 2026 is eligible for the 2026 competition.
What do you receive if you win?
An award certificate to display proudly and higher visibility for you, your department, institution, or company.
A highly coveted professional accomplishment to promote your services to colleagues, clients, or the media.
The admiration and respect of supervisors, peers, friends, and co-workers.
Your winning entry will be displayed in the 2026 UCDA Design Awards Show.
Credits for your winning entry will be published in the 2025 UCDA Design Awards Winners booklet and online gallery.
2026 Entry Deadlines and Fees
Entries must be submitted and paid for by the entry deadlines below to receive the discounted rates.
Early Bird Entry: April 15–May 15
Professional: $60 member / $100 non-member
Faculty: $50 member / $80 non-member
Student: $25 member / $35 non-member
Standard Entry: May 16–June 30
Professional: $80 member / $120 non-member
Faculty: $70 member / $90 non-member
Student: $35 member / $45 non-member
Late Entry: July 1–July 10
Professional: $100 member / $140 non-member
Faculty: $90 member / $110 non-member
Student: $45 member / $55 non-member
Join UCDA or renew your membership to receive the member pricing for entry fees.
Entry Eligibility: Work must have been published between June 1, 2025–June 1, 2026. Please note that A.I. generated or A.I. assisted art is not eligible for the illustration categories of these competitions.
2026 Judges
Hand-picked judges from around the country and throughout the professional and educational design community will evaluate entries submitted into the UCDA Design Awards. This year's judges will be announced in the spring. View our 2025 Judges.
2026 Design Awards Chair
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Rights Statement
Entrants retain all rights to their work. Submission of entries to the UCDA Design Awards (All Competitions) acknowledges the right of the University & College Designers Association to use them for exhibition, publication, and publicity for the purpose of promoting and advertising this and future competitions and/or for promoting UCDA members’ work. Entrants agree to hold UCDA harmless of any claims that may be made against it by reason of such reproductions. Securing releases is the sole responsibility of the entrant.