There are three responses to a piece of design—yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.
milton glaser • famed graphic designer and educator
Design Competitions.

Design competitions promote team building, creativity, and superb craftsmanship, boost morale, elevate team rapport, and start careers. Furthermore, winning brings validation—and it feels great! Additionally, Submitting work to design competitions is a fantastic exercise for any design studio or creative agency because it demands time, resources, collaboration, and patience. Since I was a design student, his professors encouraged him to participate in design competitions. I often refer to design competitions as my happy place.

Design competitions have helped me improve, market, validate, and celebrate my work. They have also been a great resource in encouraging my teams, colleagues, and students to participate. But more importantly, receiving recognition in design competitions is the best way to thank clients who have trusted the designers’ skills and services.

Professional Accolades.
  • Graphis Design Annual 2025 • Gold Award • The Heartbeat of Mexico poster
  • Graphis Design Annual 2025 • Honorable Mention • Concept is King poster
  • Graphis Design Annual 2025 • Honorable Mention • Lifelong Mobility logo
  • Graphis Posters Annual 2025 • Gold Award • The Heartbeat of Mexico poster
  • Graphis Posters Annual 2025 • Honorable Mention • Legacy79 Miners’ Tools posters
  • Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) • American GD Award • Brangea identity
  • LogoLounge 14 • Published • Invisible Guardian identity
  • Graphis Design Annual 2023 • Silver Award • Miners’ Brew Legacy79 self-promotional
  • Graphis Design Annual 2023 • Silver Award • Brangea identity
  • Graphis Design Annual 2023 • Honorable Mention • TXdocs identity
  • Graphis Packaging 10 • Honorable Mention • Legacy79 Miners’ Brew self-promotional
  • Graphis Journal #371 • Featured Article • Concept is King, education section
  • AAF—10th District 2021 • Silver Award • Legacy79 Miner’s Journal self-promotional
  • AAF—San Antonio 2021 • Silver Award • Legacy79 Miner’s Journal self-promotional
  • LogoLounge 12 • Published • Drinks on US logo
  • LogoLounge 12 • Featured Article • TXST Trademark Design Course showcase
  • Graphis Design Annual 2021 • Silver Award • Drinks on US self-promotional
  • AAF—San Antonio 2020 • Gold Award • Drinks on US self-promotional
  • AAF—San Antonio 2020 • Silver Award • Classical Music Institute website
  • Graphis Advertising Annual 2020 • Silver Award • Vote print advertisement
  • Graphis Design Annual 2020 • Honorable Mention • Tensoshade identity
  • Graphis Design Annual 2020 • Honorable Mention • Dream Tomorrow Today identity
  • Graphis Poster Annual 2020 • Honorable Mention • For Mexico poster
  • LogoLounge 11 • Published • Vote logo
  • LogoLounge 11 • Published • Enterprise Solustions proposed logo
  • Graphis Design Annual 2019 • Gold Award • Marioli Mexican Cuisine logo
  • Graphis Poster Annual 2019 • Honorable Mention • Vote poster
  • Graphis Design Annual 2018 • Honorable Mention • Tacoart logo
  • AAF—National 2018 • Gold Award • 50/50 logo
  • AAF—10th District 2018 • Silver Award • 50/50 logo
  • AAF—San Antonio 2018 • Gold Award • 50/50 logo
  • LogoLounge Master Library Type • Published • Stay Dog Hotel logo
  • Good 50x70 • Finalist/Published • Fin, Greenpeace poster
  • Good 50x70 • Finalist/Published • Play for Africa poster
  • LogoLounge 7 • Published • Art + Baking logo
  • LogoLounge 7 • Published • Fin, Greenpeace logo
  • LogoLounge 7 • Published • Marioli Catering logo
  • LogoLounge 6 • Published • Red Caboose Hobby Store logo
  • LogoLounge 6 • Published • Stay Dog Hotel logo
  • LogoLounge Master Library Type • Published • Equilibrio Design and Advertising logo
Student Design Competitions.

I believe student design competitions are great for promoting the students’ work, course outcomes, and design program reputation. More importantly, they validate the students’ work, build their confidence, and develop pride and camaraderie. Lastly, I led the Design Competition Committee during my tenure at Texas State University for a couple of years.

I am currently the design competitions lead and liaison at the Department of Art and Art History at Baylor University. I teach Identity Design, Packaging, UI/UX Design, and Digital Imaging.

Under My Mentorship.
  • AAF—San Antonio 2019 • 1 Best of Student Show
  • AAF—San Antonio 2020 • 1 Judges Choice Award
  • AAF—San Antonio • 11 Addys
  • AAF—10th District • 1 Addy
  • AIGA Flux • 13 Accolades
  • Baylor Art Student Exhibition • 7 Accolades
  • Communication Arts—Design • 1 Accolade
  • GDUSA • 16 Accolades
  • Graphis New Talent • 462 Accolades
  • LogoLounge • 20 Published Logos
  • National Student Show & Conference • 13 Accolades

Winning awards means it’s no longer your instructors, friends, or parents saying your work is good. It’s the professionals saying that your work is good.

mel white • instructor syracouse university