The inaugural ThurtenE X Sam Fox School Competition is Live!
Overview
The ThurtenE x Sam Fox School Booth Design Competition invites Sam Fox School of Art & Visual Design students to collaborate with ThurtenE student groups to design immersive, temporary carnival booths for ThurtenE Carnival 2026: “Ready, Set, ThurtenE!”
Rather than treating the booth as a purely functional structure, this competition challenges teams to think of it as a constructed environment. The goal is to balance creative ambition with real-world feasibility, resulting in booths that are visually striking, safe, and buildable.
How the Competition Works
Student Groups are paired with design teams of 2–3 Sam Fox students.
Design teams work directly with their assigned booth to develop a concept that reflects the booth’s theme and function.
Teams submit initial designs, receive professional feedback, and refine their proposal for final judging.
Winning designs receive funding support to help bring the booth to life during Carnival.
This is a hands-on, client-facing design experience that mirrors real-world collaboration between designers and stakeholders.
Who Can Participate
Sam Fox School Students
Open to students with a major or minor in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
Students may only participate on one design team.
ThurtenE Student Groups
Participating student groups must register and complete all required payments to be eligible.
Each group must designate a primary point of contact for the competition.
Why Participate?
Real-world design experience with an actual client
Collaboration across disciplines
Professional feedback from Sam Fox faculty and alumni
Opportunity to see your design built and experienced by thousands of Carnival attendees
Submission Requirements
Final submissions must be emailed as a single PDF and should include:
Front and side elevations
Color palette
Materials palette
Written design explanation
Design teams have flexibility in presentation style, but submissions should clearly communicate both the creative vision and construction feasibility of the design. Scroll to see booth designs from past Carnivals!
Judging Criteria
Designs will be evaluated on:
Construction feasibility
Visual impact and attractiveness
Alignment with the student group’s theme
Creativity and originality
Competition Timeline
February 26, 2026 (8:00 PM): Registration deadline
February 27, 2026: Team pairings announced
By March 6, 2026: Initial meeting between paired teams
March 23, 2026: Initial design submission due
March 24–27, 2026: Virtual office hours with competition advisor
March 31, 2026 (4:00–6:00 PM): Final judging and presentations
Key Responsibilities
Student Booths
Communicate consistently with their design team
Designate a booth liaison
Attend the final review event (at least one member)
Construct the booth (design team participation encouraged, but not required)
Sam Fox Design Teams
Develop the full booth design concept
Produce renderings and presentation materials
Meet with the competition advisor during office hours
Submit all required materials on time
Present and defend their design at final judging
Awards & Funding
Thanks to the support of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, selected teams will receive funding to support booth construction:
First Place Sam Fox Design Team: $600
First Place Student Group: $500
Second Place Student Group: $300
Third Place Student Group: $200
All awards are intended to directly support the execution of the winning booth designs.
Teams should review the full rulebook for guidelines and responsibilities carefully before designing.
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please reach out to Emily Iorio at internalbusiness@thurtene.org or 203-356-5922.
If you have any design specific questions, please reach out to Annique Bien-Aime and Aaron Kopelnik at ce@thurtene.org.
