A new campus collaboration invites Elon students from any academic discipline to experiment with artificial intelligence and creative design in a fast-paced poster competition.
Students across Elon University will soon have the opportunity to test their creativity, design instincts and emerging AI skills in the inaugural Make Your Mark: AI Poster Competition, a fast-paced challenge exploring how artificial intelligence can support — not replace — thoughtful creative work.
Open to students from any academic discipline, the first-time event encourages participants to experiment with AI tools while developing strong visual concepts and design strategies. An optional preparatory workshop on Tuesday, March 31, in Steers Pavilion will give students the chance to refine their ideas and explore approaches before the challenge officially gets underway.
The main competition takes place 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in Schar Hall, where students will receive a live prompt and have 2.5 hours to design an original 11″ × 17″ poster. Each submission must combine an AI-generated element with a non-AI or hand-crafted component, while also documenting how AI supported the creative process.
Once completed, the posters will be printed and displayed for public voting during an April 3 awards event from 5 to 6 p.m. in LaRose Digital Theater. Students will compete for $650 in prizes, including awards for the top three posters, a Fan Favorite selected by the audience, and a Judge’s Favorite.
For organizers, the competition represents more than just a creative challenge – it is also a new example of cross-campus collaboration.
“I’m excited about the Make Your Mark: AI Poster Competition for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is that this is one of the first times the Communication Design program has partnered with Elon AI, and it’s been a lot of fun exploring how AI and design can complement each other,” said Ben Hannam, associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication Design.
Hannam said the contest’s prompt is designed to spark ideas across disciplines and invite students from across campus to participate.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what students create once we reveal the secret prompt,” he said. “If you drew a Venn diagram, the prompt would definitely overlap with interests in both the School of Communications and the Love School of Business – but honestly, a creative student from anywhere on campus could walk away with the win.”
The competition also highlights the evolving role of AI in creative practice — not as a shortcut, but as a tool that still requires strong ideas and thoughtful design decisions.
“The goal of this competition is to give students a chance to experiment with emerging tools while still focusing on creativity and ideas,” said Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration. “AI can generate images quickly, but the real challenge is developing a concept and translating it into a strong visual. We are excited to see how students interpret the prompt and what they create in a short amount of time.”
Sagun Giri, AI Sandbox coordinator, noted that the event reflects a broader effort at Elon to bring together faculty and programs exploring how AI intersects with their fields.
“The Elon AI Hub works with partners across campus who are exploring how AI connects to their fields,” he said. “Make Your Mark is a great example of that collaboration between the School of Communications, the Love School of Business, and the AI Hub. It gives students a chance to experiment with AI tools, test their ideas, and create something original.”
Hannam said the competition ultimately aims to give students a creative outlet while encouraging experimentation with new tools.
“At the end of the day, this event is all about having fun, flexing your AI skills, and being creative,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what students come up with and who emerges as the winners in this head-to-head poster competition.”
Three faculty members will serve as judges for the competition: Michele Lashley, assistant professor of strategic communications; Smaraki Mohanty, Doherty Emerging Professor of Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of marketing; and Lana Waschka, assistant professor of marketing.
Ready to make your mark? Complete the online registration form. For additional information, contact Giri at sgiri@elon.edu.
Event recap
Tuesday, March 31, 5–6 p.m.
Pre-event workshop — Steers Pavilion
Thursday, April 2, 5–7:30 p.m.
Live competition — Schar Hall labs and Snow Family Grand Atrium
Friday, April 3, 5–6 p.m.
Awards ceremony — LaRose Digital Theater