T-shirt graphic designer for CU Boulder Culture Crawl

We are seeking a CU Boulder-affiliated graphic designer to design a signature t-shirt for the 2026 Culture Crawl, part of the university’s 150th anniversary. This design will be highly visible, worn by event staff and distributed to more than 1,500 attendees, and will serve as a visual anchor for promotional materials across the event. 

Design Direction

The 2026 Culture Crawl t-shirt should be inspired by the evolution of CU Boulder’s visual identity and campus culture over time, reflecting 150 years of history, creativity and community. Designs may draw on historical references, campus imagery or visual motifs that evoke CU Boulder’s past and present, while feeling contemporary and recognizable.

The final design should:

• Convey a strong sense of CU Boulder identity and pride
• Reflect the intersection of arts, culture, sciences and academic life
• Be adaptable for use across event marketing materials

About the Culture Crawl

Culture Crawl is a collaborative campus-wide initiative to introduce students—particularly first-year students—to the arts, heritage collections, academic programs and culture organizations that shape CU Boulder intellectual and creative life. 

On Sept. 30, 2026, Culture Crawl will launch the university’s fall 150th Anniversary celebrations, expanding into a walkable cultural festival connecting campus and community through more than 20 participating units.

What We’re Looking For

A CU Boulder student or alum who can produce a dynamic, visually appealing t-shirt design that captures the essence of CU Boulder’s vibrant arts and culture programs while highlighting campus collections and history. The design must adhere to a strict 2-color palette (the t-shirt color could serve as a 3rd) and follow CU Boulder merchandise and brand guidelines.

Requirements

• A portfolio showcasing your previous work in graphic design, especially t-shirt and event-related designs.
• Ability to work within specific design guidelines, including using a limited color palette (2-3 colors).
• Ability to work within CU Boulder brand and merchandise guidelines
• Willingness to iterate based on feedback.
• Ability to meet project deadlines.
• Strong understanding of branding and visual storytelling
• A current CU Boulder student or recent alum.
• Local preferred for ability to do collections research 

Compensation

The selected designer will receive a $1,500 stipend for their work on the t-shirt design.

How to Apply

Please submit your portfolio and a brief statement about your design process and work experience to the form by May 3, 2026.