�Ļ�Ӱ�� opens Theme Park Design Competition for high school students

awalters — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

�Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design has officially opened submissions for its 2025 Theme Park Design Competition, inviting high school juniors and seniors from across the United States to showcase their creativity and design talent in the field of Entertainment Design.

The competition challenges students to solve a fictional design problem: to conceptualize a mobile, all-weather merchandise cart that delivers a unique, immersive retail experience to theme park guests. For many young entertainment design professionals working in the themed entertainment industry, designing a Themed Cart is a typical first design opportunity. Entrants are encouraged to think beyond traditional retail, infusing their designs with innovation, storytelling, and an understanding of how guests engage with physical spaces in entertainment environments.

Submissions opened September 1 and will be accepted until November 30, 2025. The winners will be announced in January 2026.

Get Inspired

Nóatún Resort Scale Design / Resort Attraction Cart by Juan Bonillo Ruiz.

Chesuncook Resort attraction cart by Brody Young.

Side show design by Don Carson.

Prestigious Prizes and Opportunities

Up to three top winners will receive a VIP behind-the-scenes experience with Universal Studios, including travel and accommodations, plus:

A $20,000 tuition scholarship to an undergraduate program at �Ļ�Ӱ�� (non-transferable; dependent on admission for Fall 2026 or Fall 2027)
Full tuition scholarship to Ringling’s PreCollege program in Summer 2026 or 2027
Half tuition scholarship to Ringling’s PreCollege program in Summer 2026 or 2027

Select finalists will also receive a Ringling/Universal Studios merchandise prize package and have their work included in a special exhibition at Universal Creative or another Universal Studios-owned facility.

Who Can Enter?

The competition is open to U.S. high school students currently enrolled in grades 11 and 12 during the 2025–26 academic year.

Interested students can download the official project brief—which outlines all the submission guidelines and creative parameters—from �Ļ�Ӱ��’s website. This document serves as a roadmap to help students craft their entries and better understand the expectations of themed entertainment design.

Encouraging the Next Generation of Designers

The competition underscores �Ļ�Ӱ��’s commitment to fostering innovation in the arts and entertainment industries, particularly through its Entertainment Design major—one of the few programs of its kind in the country. By collaborating with Universal Studios, the college offers high school students a rare opportunity to gain exposure to professional design challenges and receive feedback from industry leaders.

Students and educators are encouraged to visit �Ļ�Ӱ��’s official website or follow the college on social media for updates. For more information, competition guidelines, and access to the project brief, visit �Ļ�Ӱ��’s official website.

Learn more about the competition.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

The post �Ļ�Ӱ�� opens Theme Park Design Competition for high school students appeared first on �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design.

�Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design announces High School Student Theme Park Design Competition

awalters — Fri, 30 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

From the thrill rides and performances to the shops and restaurants, every element of a theme park experience is crafted with intention. Now, an all-new design competition hopes to find the experience designers of the future—and winners will earn a college scholarship and a trip to Universal Orlando Resort.

The first-ever Theme Park Design Competition presented by �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design will be open to all U.S. high school juniors and seniors from September 1 to November 30, 2025.

This year, the competition requires all entrants to conceptualize a mobile merchandise cart that could be used in outdoor theme parks. Each student entry will be evaluated by a prestigious panel of judges, including professors from �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design, Universal Creative, and other experienced professionals in the entertainment design industry.

The top prize winners of the Theme Park Design Competition will win a $20,000 tuition scholarship to �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design and an exclusive VIP “behind the scenes” experience at Universal Studios Florida with complimentary travel and accommodations. Selected second and third-place competition finalists can also earn a scholarship to the 2025 �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design PreCollege Summer Program. Entries will be judged in December 2025, with winners announced in January 2026.

“Entertainment Design impacts everything from theme parks, museums, and concerts to hotels, retail stores, and sporting events,” said Jamie DeRuyter, Entertainment Design Department Head at �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design.

“Through this competition, we hope to inspire today’s high school students to see themselves as tomorrow’s immersive experience designers and raise their awareness of this exciting, versatile, and fast-growing career field.”

“We are proud to collaborate with �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design in creating this first-of-its-kind entertainment design competition,” said Eliza Lee of Universal Creative. “This competition is intended to get high school juniors and seniors thinking practically about how to solve creative problems, design memorable experiences, and bring their unique ideas to life.”For more information about the Theme Park Design Competition presented by �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design, visit .