Your Art.On a Rocket.Seriously.

Mission patches should answer one question: “What message would Baruch send into space?”

Design a 3.5" × 3.5" mission patch that captures the spirit of:

• Scientific Discovery
• Space Exploration
• The Baruch Community
• Curiosity, Creativity & Innovation

The winning design may become the official mission patch for Baruch's participation in Mission 22.

Why This Matters

Space missions do not happen because of scientists alone. They happen because people with different talents come together around a shared goal.

Researchers ask questions. Engineers solve problems. Designers tell stories. Communicators inspire others. Every mission needs all of them.

It takes a community to launch an experiment into space.

Concept Before Craft

A visually polished design that does not respond meaningfully to the challenge should not be favored over a simpler design with a strong and compelling concept.

• Concept is valued more than technical polish.
• Communication is valued more than complexity.
• Meaning is valued more than decoration.

You Don't Have to Be an Artist

You can be:

• A science student
• A designer
• An artist
• A writer
• An educator
• A creative thinker
• Someone who's simply excited about space

Eligibility

• Any currently enrolled Baruch student
• Any major or academic discipline
• Individual or team entries (up to 3 students)
• No design, art, or science experience required
• Each student or team may submit up to three (3) designs.

Submission Checklist

• Mission Patch Design
• Artist Statement (150-300 words)
• AI Disclosure Statement (if applicable)
• Student Name(s), Major(s), & Contact Information

Format

All designs must be created within a 3.5 inch × 3.5 inch square format.

The final mission patch may eventually be adapted for official use, but all competition submissions must fit within the provided square design area.

Digital Submission Requirements

Digital submissions should be provided as either:

• JPG
• PNG

Recommended minimum resolution:
1000 × 1000 pixels

Higher resolutions are encouraged whenever possible.

Physical Artwork Submissions

Hand-drawn and physical artwork are welcome.

Physical artwork should be submitted as:

• A high-quality scan, or
• A clear, well-lit photograph

The image should accurately represent the original work and allow reviewers to view the design clearly.

Acceptable Media

Designs may be created using:

• Pencil
• Pen and ink
• Colored pencil
• Markers
• Paint
• Collage
• Digital illustration
• Mixed media

The competition does not favor any particular medium.

The strength of the idea is more important than the method used to create it.

Designing for Reproduction

Because the selected design may be reproduced at relatively small sizes, students should emphasize:

• Strong visual communication
• Memorable symbols
• Clear composition
• Distinctive imagery
• Simplicity when appropriate

Students are encouraged to ask:

Would this design still be recognizable if it were reduced in size?

Original Work Requirement

Submitted designs must represent the original work of the student or student team.

Students may draw inspiration from historical mission patches, scientific imagery, and space exploration traditions, but submitted work should represent the participant's own creative effort.

Purpose of the Artist Statement

The artist statement provides an opportunity to explain the ideas behind the work and help reviewers understand the choices that shaped the design.

The statement is not intended to be an academic essay or a technical analysis. Instead, it should help communicate the story, symbolism, and intentions behind the design.

Length

Artist statements should be between 150 and 300 words.

Concise, thoughtful writing is encouraged.

Required Prompts

1. What does your patch represent?
2. What symbols or imagery did you choose, and why?
3. How does the design reflect Baruch's participation in scientific research and discovery in space?

What Makes a Strong Artist Statement?

• Clearly explain the central concept.
• Connect visual choices to meaningful ideas.
• Help readers understand symbolism.
• Demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the challenge.
• Use clear and accessible language.

Strong statements do not require specialized artistic or scientific vocabulary.

What the Committee Is Looking For

The Selection Committee is not evaluating literary style or writing sophistication. Instead, reviewers are looking for evidence that the design is intentional and thoughtfully developed.

• Why were these symbols chosen?
• What story is the patch telling?
• How does it represent the mission?
• What should viewers understand when they see it?

Example Approach

“The patch represents the idea that scientific discovery begins with curiosity. The bridge symbolizes connections between disciplines and communities, while the stars represent exploration beyond Earth. The circular pattern suggests both orbital motion and collaboration among students, faculty, and researchers. Together these elements reflect Baruch's contribution to scientific research in space and the shared effort required to make exploration possible.”

This example illustrates the level of detail expected but should not be viewed as a template.

Students may use AI-assisted tools during the design process.

If AI tools are used at any stage, participants should briefly explain how they contributed to the work.

There is no penalty for using AI tools. The competition values transparency regarding the design process.

Examples of A.I. Use:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Generating references
• Exploring visual directions
• Developing compositions
• Testing color palettes

AI Disclosure Statement

Each submission must include a brief response to the following question:

Were AI tools used during the development of this design? If yes, how were they used?

A few sentences is sufficient.

The Selection Committee is looking for:

• Meaningful ideas and storytelling
• Clear visual communication
• Strong symbolism
• Connections to Baruch and space research
• A design that works as an actual mission patch

Guiding Questions

1. Does this patch tell the story of Baruch doing science in space?
2. Is the concept meaningful and memorable?
3. Does the design communicate clearly?
4. Would this work as an actual mission patch?

Selection Philosophy

Mission patch selection is based primarily on the strength of the idea rather than artistic technique.

Technical polish and craftsmanship are valued, but they do not outweigh conceptual strength.

If this patch were the official symbol of Baruch's mission, would we be proud of the story it tells?

Mission Patch Winner

The design selected to serve as the official visual symbol of Baruch College's participation in Mission 22.

The winning designer or design team will be recognized in mission-related communications and announcements whenever possible.

Alternate Design

A second design selected by the committee in the event that the winning design cannot successfully complete the revision and approval process.

The alternate design should be recognized alongside the winning design as a distinguished contribution to the mission.

Why Participate?

• Contribute to a real spaceflight mission
• Explore the intersection of science and creativity
• Show off your communication and design skills
• Share in a story of discovery and exploration
• Represent Baruch beyond Earth!

November 2026

Competition Launch & Workshops Begin

December 2026 - January 2027

Independent Design Development

Early February 2027

Submission Deadline

Mid-February 2027

Selection Committee Review

March 5, 2027

Official Mission Patch Submitted to SSEP

Optional workshops will be offered throughout the competition.

No experience is necessary.

Workshops provide opportunities to:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Sketch concepts
• Receive feedback
• Refine designs
• Develop artist statements

Workshops

• Science Student Workshop (90 Minutes)
• Design Student Workshop (150 Minutes)
• Community Workshop for Any Student (90 Minutes)

Anonymous Review

To support a fair review process, identifying information will be removed before committee review.

Reviewers will receive:

• The design
• The artist statement
• The AI disclosure statement
• A submission number

Student names will not be shared with reviewers during the judging process.

Rights and Revisions

Students retain credit for their work.

By entering the competition, participants grant the Baruch SSEP Program permission to display submitted work for educational, promotional, and exhibition purposes.

The Selection Committee may request revisions to the winning design before final approval. Whenever possible, revisions will be completed in collaboration with the student designer.

Final Note to Participants

The Baruch SSEP Mission Patch Competition is not primarily a search for the most technically accomplished artwork. It is a search for a compelling symbol of Baruch's participation in scientific research and discovery in space.

A strong idea communicated clearly will always be valued more highly than technical complexity alone.

Explore the History

NASA Human Spaceflight Mission Patches

Explore patches from Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle, International Space Station expeditions, and more.

See What Other Students Made

SSEP Mission 14 Student Patches

See 56 patches selected through student and community competitions for SSEP Mission 14 and chosen for flight to the International Space Station.

See What Other Students Made

More SSEP Student Patches

Explore 32 patches selected through SSEP Mission 11 art and design competitions for flight to the International Space Station.

See How a Designer Approaches It

Patricia Klein’s Emblems of Space

Explore her personal archive of emblems inspired by space missions and projects, from Hubble and Webb to Mars 2020, DART, LIGO, and more.

See How a Designer Approaches It

Inside Patricia Klein’s Design Process

See how she uses spacecraft, scientific goals, exploration targets, and other symbols to capture the essence of a mission.

Look Closely.

What grabs you first? What story is being told? Which symbols are doing the work? What makes the design stick with you?