The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation Student Design Competition Presented by Riddell

The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation Student Design Competition: Presented by Riddell at the KSU Downtown Gallery, January 29 - March 6, 2027. University wide football helmet design competition.

CALL FOR DESIGNS

LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation Student Design Competition: Presented by Riddell

Your design. A real Riddell helmet.

Open to all Kent State undergraduate and graduate students.

Join us in a celebration of fashion and football inspired by the Kent State University Museum’s upcoming exhibition, NFL Looks: From Draft Day to Game Day!

Create and submit a digital helmet design using the attached template and design guidelines. Use bold colors, unexpected patterns, and original imagery to celebrate Kent State, capture the game’s energy, tell your story, or explore something entirely your own.

No team name or logo is required. Any you include must be original and for a fictional team. All artwork must be original, without existing team logos or other protected imagery.

Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and use of color. Riddell, the School of Art Collection and Galleries, and the Kent State University Museum will select five winning designs for Riddell to produce as helmets.

FIRST PRIZE: $1,000 • SECOND PRIZE: $500

All five winning helmets: On view at the KSU Downtown Gallery, January 29–March 6, 2027, alongside a custom-designed helmet inspired by LeRoy Neiman’s artwork and produced by Riddell.

Top two helmets: Displayed and auctioned at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards in February 2027, benefiting the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

NFL Looks: From Draft Day to Game Day showcases iconic fashion looks from across the league at the Kent State University Museum, January 29–September 6, 2027.

• Original designs only: Designs should be original and cannot copy or incorporate copyrighted or trademarked artwork. Character designs are not permitted.
• No AI-generated designs: We ask that all artwork be created originally rather than generated using AI.
• Unique decal concepts: We’re open to creative and unique decal designs, including wing-inspired concepts such as Michigan and Oregan.
• NFL-inspired approaches: Looking at NFL team or D1 designs can be a helpful reference for what is feasible, particularly side decal strips and similar applications.
• Patterns: We cannot accommodate an all-over pattern, as that requires purchasing a significant amount of additional material. However, patterns can be incorporated into a stripe or other decal element.
• Words and mascots: Words, team names, and mascot elements are all acceptable, provided they meet the original-design requirements above.
• Riddell logo: The Riddell logo must remain on the helmet, but you are able to select the color that best complements the design.

Adobe Illustrator helmet mockup from Riddell

PDF of helmet mockup from Riddell

Absolutely free to apply. You must be an enrolled  graduate student, or undergraduate student at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.