Make your 'Mark contest

Portrait of Paige Newman next to her winning bookmark design showing two wolves nose to nose with the text "You Belong"

Congrats to Paige Newman, the 2025 Make Your 'Mark winner!

Introducing Paige Newman, a third-year Graphic Design student at the University of Nevada, Reno—and the 2025 winner of the Make Your ‘Mark Pride Artwork Contest!

Proudly part of the LGBTQ+ community, Paige was inspired by the many Pride flags and reimagined them as flowers, each one symbolizing a different identity and story. Reflecting on their piece, Paige shares, “I wanted to show that no matter your sexuality or gender, you are loved and you belong."

Submissions closed for 2025. Contest details are shown below:

Make Your ‘Mark is a chance for University students to showcase their artistic abilities to design a graphic that will be featured on a 2 inch by 6 inch glossy bookmark. One design will be selected and handed out by the University Libraries and the Queer and LGBT+ Advocacy Board (QLAB) at the Northern Nevada Pride Celebration in September.

This year's theme, “We Belong” allows you to be open and expressive with your interpretations, exploring ideas on support, acceptance, truth, love and more.

Requirements

  • The artwork must be original. No composition of existing imagery or use of generative AI.
  • The artwork must designed as a 2 inch by 6 inch rectangle. 
  • The artwork can be vertical or horizontal.
  • Accepted file format type are .jpg, .png, or .pdf
  • The incorporation of a Nevada logo into a submitted design will not be considered. The University of Nevada, Reno has branding guidelines and standards for the use of any Nevada logos, including the Block N, the Presidential Seal and various Nevada Athletics logos, which states that alterations of these logos are not permitted.
  • The University Libraries retains the right to not select a winner or to hold entries for future use.

How to enter

Follow the requirements listed above and submit your work through the form on this page.

Eligibility

Must be a current University of Nevada, Reno undergraduate or graduate student.

Timeline

Submissions will be accepted from March 1, 2025 to May 6, 2025. The selected artwork will be announced in early May.

Review

Each submission will be reviewed by representatives from three departments, including the University Libraries IDEA committee, the University Libraries Marketing and Communications team and QLAB.  

The selected artist will be notified via email. On the final bookmark design, the artist's name will be featured on the bottom right corner of the artwork. 

Prize

The winning artist will receive a library-themed gift bag and a spotlight on the University Libraries website.

Questions?

This contest in a collaboration between the University Libraries Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee and QLAB. The University Libraries supports the University’s commitment to a culture of excellence, inclusion and accessibility. We aspire to provide the spaces and resources that our students, faculty, staff and community members need to thrive, free from all forms of discrimination and oppression.

If you have any questions, please reach out to librarydiversity@unr.edu.

Submissions

Please use the form below to submit your Make your 'Mark submissions