Student Tartan Design Competition

As part of UTA's yearlong 130th anniversary celebration, we sought the artistic help of students in creating a unique commemorative tartan design that captured the spirit of the milestone anniversary. The winning design is used on a range of limited-edition University merchandise that is available for purchase in the UTA Bookstore.
student rachel chen holding a print of her tartan plaid design

Meet the Winning Designer

“I feel very grateful to have been chosen as the winner and have the opportunity to express the passion I have for design. It fascinates me how the tradition of the tartan can be traced so far back, yet students like me are still actively participating in it by designing a tartan pattern that, at its core, links us all together.”

Learn More about Rachel
tartan merchandise in the bookstore

Shop Limited-Edition Tartan Gear

Rachel's winning plaid is now featured on exclusive UTA Bookstore merchandise—including scrunchies, a cozy knit blanket, socks, T-shirts, and crewnecks and sweatshirts with plaid UTA letters. Plus, silk scarves, and ties are coming soon!

Shop Tartan Merchandise

Contest Details

  1. The winning design will be placed on official UTA merchandise that recognizes the University's 130th Celebration
  2. If the designer wants to incorporate the UTA logo or the 130th logo into the design, this is allowed. Please download the official UTA and the official 130th logos here. No other logos are allowed.

Colors: The winning design can use up to four (4) of the approved colors listed below.

  • PMS: 293
  • CMYK: 100, 62, 0, 0
  • RGB: 0, 100, 177
  • Hex: #0064b1
  • PMS: 158
  • CMYK: 0, 61, 97, 0
  • RGB: 0, 56, 101
  • Hex: #f58025
  • PMS: 2955
  • CMYK: 100, 60, 50
  • RGB: 0, 56, 101
  • Hex: #003865
  • PMS: 406
  • CMYK: 5, 8, 10, 16
  • RGB: 96, 188, 183
  • Hex: #c4bcb7
  • PMS: 408
  • CMYK: 12, 19, 19, 40
  • RGB: 151, 140, 135
  • Hex: #978c87
  • PMS: 410
  • CMYK: 22, 33, 28, 60
  • RGB: 116, 102, 97
  • Hex: #746661
  • PMS: 406
  • CMYK: 27, 4, 1, 1
  • RGB: 189, 214, 230
  • Hex: #bdd6e6
  • PMS: 542
  • CMYK: 60, 19, 1, 4
  • RGB: 123, 175, 212
  • Hex: #7bafd4
  • PMS: 2755
  • CMYK: 100, 97, 0, 30
  • RGB: 37, 14, 98
  • Hex: #250e62
  • PMS: 5507
  • CMYK: 27, 5, 17, 18
  • RGB: 157, 176, 172
  • Hex: #9db0ac
  • PMS: 2176
  • CMYK: 33, 12, 17, 0
  • RGB: 166, 184, 193
  • Hex: #a6b8c1
  • PMS: 2179
  • CMYK: 76, 35, 34, 18
  • RGB: 82, 122, 138
  • Hex: #527a8a
  • PMS: 586
  • CMYK: 10, 0, 59, 0
  • RGB: 224, 226, 124
  • Hex: #e0e27c
  • PMS: 116
  • CMYK: 0, 14, 100, 0
  • RGB: 255, 205, 0
  • Hex: #ffcd00
  • PMS: 137
  • CMYK: 0, 45, 100, 0
  • RGB: 266, 163, 0
  • Hex: #ffa300
  • PMS: 7417
  • CMYK: 1, 83, 85, 0
  • RGB: 224, 78, 57
  • Hex: #e04e39
  • PMS: 199
  • CMYK: 0, 100, 72, 0
  • RGB: 213, 0, 50
  • Hex: #d50032

When submitting your design, please include both one block of your design and multiple blocks of your design.

There is no entry fee or purchase necessary to participate and submit a design. The contest is open to all students, regardless of college or major.  All entrants must be current University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) students. Only one design submission per person is allowed.
  1. This contest is open to all registered UTA students, including student employees. 
  2. All designs must be original creations of the contestant (use of AI is not allowed) and incorporate all of the required brand design components outlined above (i.e., colors, trademarks, logos). Submissions must not have been previously published and must not contain profanity, trademarks, other organizations' logos, or any copyrighted works of any other person or business. 
  3. By entering this contest, you grant UTA the non-exclusive, irrevocable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, and publish your submitted entry in any media, worldwide, for promotional or other purposes related to UTA’s 130th anniversary, without further compensation or notification to you.  
  4. The contest winner must agree to submit a high-resolution layered vector art file. 
  5. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to allow UTA to use their name, likeness, and photograph for promotional purposes without further compensation or approval. 
  6. Within seven (7) days of notification of award, the winner(s) agree to work with the University’s print vendor if slight changes/modifications are necessary for production. If not, an alternate winner may be chosen to meet the University’s production deadlines.  
  7. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to all contest rules. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] with the subject line TARTAN QUESTIONS. 
  8. The winning entry/participant will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship to UTA.  The second-place designer will receive a one-time $500 scholarship to UTA.   
  1. Complete the entry form with the required details (name, email address, etc.). 
  2. Submit your design in .pdf format via the submission form by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 28, 2025.
  3. Designs must be created in either Adobe (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Canva, or CorelDRAW. 
  1. Entries will be evaluated by an independent internal panel of judges and will be reviewed for:
    • Concept and originality of design
    • Visibility from a reasonable distance
    • Adherence to design and submission rules and guidelines
    • Adherence to The University of Texas at Arlington branding guidelines, including logo usage, colors, and typefaces
    • Successfully capturing the spirit of UTA’s 130th Anniversary Celebration
    • Totality of design and production readiness
  2. Upon final review, the top two designs will be presented on the official 130th anniversary website with words of congratulations to the winner and second place designer.