IU Indianapolis - Show us what the library means to you!
The University Library wants your creativity on our next Weeks of Welcome T-shirt! Whether the library is your home away from home, your go-to place to lock in and study, or your quiet spot to explore new ideas — we want to see it through your eyes. Submit your original design for a chance to have your artwork worn by the IU Indy community.
Key Dates
| Submission Deadline: | Wednesday, April 29, 2026 |
| Winner Announced: | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 |
Who Can Enter
Current IU Indianapolis students, faculty, and staff (both full-time and part-time) are eligible to enter. One design submission per person.
Design Guidelines
Theme
Your design should reflect what the University Library means to you — a home away from home, a place to focus and lock in, a spot for quiet reflection, a space for discovery and exploration. Capture that feeling in your design.
Typefaces
Only the following font families may be used:
- Georgia Pro
- Benton Sans
- Azeret Mono
Colors
Designs may use up to two (2) colors from the approved palette below. The winning design will be printed on a white, black, or dark gray T-shirt — please indicate your preferred shirt color in your submission.
| Crimson #990000 | Light Crimson #F41C40 | Dark Gray #B9C1C6 | White #FFFFFF | Deep Navy #01426A | Black #000000 |
Placement
Design for either the front or back of the T-shirt (the library logo will also be incorporated into the final shirt). Please indicate in your submission whether your design is intended for the front or back.
What's Not Allowed
Designs that include any of the following will not be considered:
- Mash-ups, parodies, or references to colleges or institutions other than IU Indianapolis
- Adult content including references to sex, drug use, profanity, or gambling
- Elements incorporating the copyright, trademark, or intellectual property of any third party
- Images of or references to any individual, living or dead
A Note on AI-Generated Designs
We want to see your handiwork — please do not submit AI-generated designs. Using AI tools for initial ideation or mood-boarding is fine, but the final submitted artwork must be your own original creation, not generated by an AI image tool.
How to Submit
Send your design as a PDF to uldean@iu.edu an include:
- Your name
- Contact info — email address and phone number
- A brief description of your concept
- Your preferred T-shirt color (white, black, or dark gray)
- Whether your design is for the front or back of the shirt
Accepted File Formats
Submit your design file in one of the following vector formats:
- EPS
- SVG
- Vector-format PDF
Note: Raster image formats (JPEG, PNG, etc.) will not be accepted. Your submission email may include a PDF preview of your design, but please also attach the original vector source file.
Design Rights & Ownership
By submitting your design, you grant IU Indianapolis University Library the right to reproduce and use the winning design on T-shirts and related promotional materials. All other rights remain with the original designer. Only submit work that is entirely your own original creation.
You will receive a confirmation email once your submission has been received
How Designs Are Judged
An independent internal panel of judges will evaluate all eligible entries on the following criteria:
- Concept and originality of design
- Visibility and legibility from a reasonable distance
- Adherence to design and submission rules and guidelines
- Adherence to branding guidelines, including logo usage, colors, and typefaces
- Library theme expressed in the design
- Totality of design and production readiness
Prize
The winner will receive a special non-monetary prize. The winning design will be produced and worn with pride across the IU Indianapolis community!
Questions? Email uldean@iu.edu — we'd love to hear from you. Good luck!