Voting is now open for the Sphere Student Design Challenge. There are more than two dozen UNLV entries in the college division of the contest. Voting ends on June 5, 2024. Vote for your favorite now.

As part of Sphere’s ongoing mission of uniting art and science to bring wonder to the world, the Annual Sphere XO Student Design Challenge is providing select UNLV students with an opportunity to learn how to conceptualize and create art for the Exosphere.  

For Sphere’s first design contest, celebrating the 4th of July, two winners will have their designs showcased on the Exosphere. Sphere will give a $10,000 scholarship to both of the winning UNLV students in support of their education. 

The competition was open to students in art, architecture, film, engineering, and mathematics. Similar competitions are being held for elementary, middle, and high school students.

The Sphere team provided custom-developed tools to aid the students in creating their art, including a VR headset and app. Participating students received tutorials from Sphere designers on how to create art specifically for the Exosphere.  

Students had four weeks to complete their art with a weekly office hours model and dedicated email address to obtain Sphere technical support as needed.  

Winning student artwork will be selected via two methods – by established artists participating in the  XO/Art program, including Refik Anadol and Michela Picchi; as well as by the general public, who vote on Sphere’s website and follow along on social media.