Baylor Students Excel for a 3rd Consecutive Year in International Design Competition

May 14, 2026

From Classroom to Global Recognition: Baylor Students Excel for a Third Consecutive Year in International Design Competition.

Spring semesters in the Department of Art & Art History at Baylor University are marked by high energy, anticipation, and big celebrations. While Baylor students studying art with a concentration in graphic design participate in competitions throughout the academic year, the spring season brings a particularly exciting attention to national and international competitions. The semester culminates with one of the most anticipated announcements: the results of the Graphis New Talent Annual, the final major competition of the academic year for our students studying graphic design and art.

The Graphis New Talent Annual is a premier international competition and publication that highlights outstanding student and emerging creative work in design, advertising, photography, and illustration. Each year, it provides a fitting capstone to months of creative achievement, showcasing the very best work produced by students around the world.

The 2026 competition featured an exceptional pool of submissions from 113 leading institutions worldwide, including Art Center College of Design, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, Savannah College of Art and Design, The Cooper Union, School of Visual Arts, Yale School of Art, and the University of the Arts London, among others.

For the third consecutive year, Baylor University is proudly represented among these distinguished art and design programs and institutions. The Graphis New Talent Annual is a respected platform for launching creative careers, with selected work featured in a curated print edition and on the Graphis website.

Entries are evaluated by a distinguished jury of industry leaders, creative directors, and designers. This year’s panel included experts such as Rit Bottorf (VP, Creative Director, Digitas Health), Roy Burns III (Design Director, Lewis), Alan Hunter (President and Chief Creative Officer, PETROL Advertising), Michael Braley (Creative Director, Braley Design), Mark Borgions (Illustrator, Designer, Animator, HandMade Monsters), Xian Liyun, PhD (Founder, Yiyun Art Space), Ivette Valenzuela (CEO, Ivette Valenzuela Design), Robert Shaw West (Chief Creative Officer, The Republik), Michael Confer (Photographer), and Felix Holzer (Photographer and CEO).

Student design competitions play a vital role in advancing both individual growth and program excellence. They provide a powerful platform to showcase student work, demonstrate course outcomes, and elevate the reputation of a design program. More importantly, they validate students’ efforts, build confidence, and foster a strong sense of pride and community.

This year, Baylor celebrates a remarkable achievement: ten students have earned recognition for sixteen projects in the Graphis New Talent Annual 2026. This accomplishment reflects the passion, creativity, dedication, and high-quality work produced by our students in the Department of Art & Art History.