By Erin Timmerman
At Michigan State University, entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business—it’s a mindset of innovation, creativity, and resilience. The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is calling on Spartans to showcase that spirit through a t-shirt design tournament, providing them an opportunity to share their vision, inspire others, and leave a lasting mark on campus.
Whether you're an aspiring designer or simply passionate about entrepreneurship, the tournament invites students from all majors to submit original designs that capture what entrepreneurship at MSU means to them. Whether it’s an expression of bold ideas, collaboration, or the journey of turning dreams into reality, this theme aims to celebrate the diverse paths Spartans take in shaping the future.
"Entrepreneurship is about embracing creativity and taking risks to solve real-world problems," says Ken Szymusiak, managing director of academic programs at the Burgess Institute. "We want this contest to inspire students to think about how their ideas can make a difference—and to share that vision through design."
After designs are submitted, the tournament will be held in a bracket-style format on social media, where the MSU community will vote for their favorite designs each round via Instagram Stories starting March 18, 2025, with the winner announced during 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week on Monday, March 31, 2025.
The winning design will be featured on a t-shirt and sticker for the 2025-26 academic year, distributed by the Burgess Institute. A sticker will be created with the runner-up design and both will be featured on the Burgess Institute's social media platforms and a story article.
“Spartan entrepreneurs have launched ventures across diverse industries, including technology, health and wellness, sustainable fashion, and consumer goods,” says Lori Fischer, Director of Operations at the Burgess Institute. “Their stories often begin with a small idea—just like this design tournament.”
Designs must be submitted to Qualtrics between Saturday, February 1 - Saturday, March 1, 2025, to be eligible to participate. All designs must be original, created solely by the participant. No pre-made designs or copied works will be accepted. The design should visually represent entrepreneurship at MSU. Submissions should reflect the innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that the Burgess Institute embodies. Designs must be submitted in a digital format, such as PNG, JPEG, or vector files. Participants are encouraged to ensure that their designs are high quality, as these designs will be printed on t-shirts. While adherence to MSU’s and the Burgess Institute branding guidelines, including logo use, color scheme, and fonts, is recommended, it is not mandatory.
Ready to leave your mark on MSU’s entrepreneurial community? It all starts with a design.
More information about the T-Shirt Design Tournament is available via the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation