We are now accepting project submissions from all students who have taken any ARTS courses during the 2025–2026 academic year! Whether your work is in studio art, digital media, photography, graphic design, or mixed media, we want to celebrate your creativity and hard work.
Selected pieces will be featured in our Commencement Art Show, which opens during the second week of final exams, starting May 8, 2026. The show will be on display in the SADA Art Museum through Commencement Weekend (May 14–16). This is a time where you will have the opportunity to showcase your work to families, guests, and graduates that will be visiting campus!
Even better, the exhibition will remain up throughout the summer and into the start of the fall semester, giving your art extended visibility and continued impact.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Submission Guidelines:
- Open to all students enrolled in any ARTS course during 2025–2026 academic year
- Art submissions should be original works completed during the current academic year. Works from previous years will not be considered.
- Submit up to 3 pieces (per class) of high-resolution digital files of your artwork (300DPI) , original physical artwork are not accepted/will not be displayed.
- Labeling: Student Name, Class and Instructor Information, Medium
- Deadline: 12/15/2025 (Fall); 04/17/2026 (Spring) //Exhibition to be held from May to September, 2026
- Fill out the Commencement Exhibition Submission Form
Physical artworks will not be included in the exhibition. All submissions must be in digital format. The department will manage the printing and mounting of all accepted digital works and will assume full responsibility for the associated costs.
*Please refer to the section below for category-specific submission guidelines
Studio Art Submissions
2D Artwork (Drawings, Paintings, Film Photography, Print Making, etc.)
There are two main options to scan your 2D artwork. First, you may use the high-quality scanner available in the 3D Innovation Lab to digitize your work. This will ensure the scan captures accurate color and detail; Second, you may use the HP Printers located around campus (See Video: How to Scan Artwork).
- Color Profile: RGB
- File Format: JPEG
- Resolution: 300 DPI (dots per inch). *Important! Do not scale down your work after scanning. We want the original full-resolution scan to maintain fidelity.
- For Large artworks: For artwork that is larger than our available scanners or includes dimensional texture (such as thick paint, collage elements, or mixed media), please photograph your work instead of scanning. See below section for photograph instructions.
3D Innovation Lab Hours: Monday 8:30-13:00pm. Student workers will be available in the Labs to assist with scanning.
3D Artwork (Sculpture, Ceramic, Jewelry, Texture Paintings etc.)
The Photo Lab is available to help you professionally document your artwork using proper lighting setups and neutral backdrops.
- Camera: Use a High-Quality Camera, a DSLR or mirrorless camera is ideal. Cameras can be checked out at DMAJ Media Lab ( How to Check Out SADA Equipment)
- Positioning the Camera: Place the camera directly in front of the artwork to avoid distortion. Use a tripod to keep the camera steady and aligned. Ensure the artwork is flat and level (for 2D work) or fully visible from the desired angle (for 3D pieces like ceramics).
- Camera Settings: Shoot in RAW format for maximum image quality and editing flexibility; Use a low ISO (100–400) to reduce noise; Set a small aperture (e.g., f/8–f/11) for greater depth of field and sharpness; Use a timer or remote shutter to avoid camera shake. (How I Photograph My Artwork - Camera Settings + Lightroom Adjustments)
- Resolution: Match the intended print size at 300 DPI (dots per inch)
- Color Profile: RGB
- Post-Processing: Use software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust exposure, contrast, white balance; Crop and straighten the image; Export in high-resolution formats (high-quality JPEG). *Important! Do not scale down your work after photographing it. We want the original full-resolution photo to maintain fidelity.
Photo Lab Hours: Monday (8:30am-11:30am; 4:00pm-6:30pm), Tuesday & Thursday (3:30pm-6:30pm), Friday (12:00pm-4:00pm). Student workers will be available in the Labs to assist with scanning.
Branding, UX/UI Designs, Vector Illustrations, Typography, Packaging, Publication, etc
- File Types: PDF to preserves vector graphics, typography, and color profiles.
- Document Size: Set your document size to match the final print size. (For example, if your project will be printed at 8.5" × 11", your document should be created at 8.5" × 11".) This ensures accurate layout, scaling, and resolution for print production.
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- Color Profile: RGB/CMYK
___________________________________________
Motion Designs
- File Format: MP4 (H.264 codec); MOV (Apple ProRes)
- Resolution: 1080 × 1920 (Vertical/Portrait)
- Frame Rate: 24 fps or 30 fps
- Duration: 30 seconds to 2 minutes
- *Important: File uploads are limited to 1G
How to document your physical artwork
The Photo Lab is available to help you professionally document your artwork using proper lighting setups and neutral backdrops.
- Camera: Use a High-Quality Camera, a DSLR or mirrorless camera is ideal. Cameras can be checked out at DMAJ Media Lab ( How to Check Out SADA Equipment)
- Lighting: Use soft, diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows and reflections; Natural light or softbox setups work well; Consider a light tent for small products to create even lighting.
- Background: Use a neutral background (white, black, or gray) to keep the focus on the packaging; For lifestyle shots, choose backgrounds that complement the brand aesthetic.
- Angles & Composition: Capture multiple angles: front, side, top, and 3/4 views; Include close-ups of textures, finishes (e.g., embossing, foil), and details; Use the rule of thirds or centered compositions depending on the design’s symmetry.
- Camera Settings: Shoot in RAW format for maximum image quality and editing flexibility; set ISO to 100–200 for clean, noise-free images; set Aperture to f/8 to f/16 for sharp focus across the product; set shutter speed to 1/125 to 1/200 sec to avoids blur; set white balance to "custom" or "daylight" for accurate colors; set focus to "Manual" or "Single Point AF" for precise details; Use a timer or remote shutter to avoid camera shake. (Product Photography on White Background - Hard Light)
- Post-Processing: Adjust exposure, white balance, and sharpness; Arrange selected images in a clean, print-ready layout; Export in high-resolution formats (high-quality JPEG). *Important! Do not scale down your work after photographing it. We want the original full-resolution photo to maintain fidelity.
- Resolution: Match the intended print size at 300 DPI (dots per inch)
- Color Profile:RGB
Photo Lab Hours: Monday (8:30am-11:30am; 4:00pm-6:30pm), Tuesday & Thursday (3:30pm-6:30pm), Friday (12:00pm-4:00pm). Student workers will be available in the Labs to assist with scanning.