The Design Competition
10 February 2010

Now that the bus is up and running with field trips, it's time to get to the real fun! Design Our Bus.

Design Guidelines
This competition is for the exterior of the Ecosa Bus. Keep in mind that our goal is to communicate who we are, what we do, and how to find more information about us. We want the graphics to reflect an awareness of graphic and communication design, and not look like a tattooed casino shuttle.

With that in mind, each design entry must include:

-our name (Ecosa Institute)
-our web address (www.ecosainstitute.org)
-our phone number (928.541.1002)
-our location (Prescott, AZ)
-a design for the window sign above the front windshield

Entrants have the option to include the following in their design:

-our logo (download)
-alumni quotes
-past student projects
-our web images
-one of our slogans (or a new one of your creation), e.g. Radical Sustainability, Imagine...one semester could transform your whole career
-your name or logo (designed by...)

Submission Deadlines
The contest will run from February 10 through April 1, 2010 and the winner will be announced on Earth Day, April 22. Entrants do not need to pre-register, but a $25 registration fee will be due upon submission. The winner will be awarded the registration fee "cash kitty" and their winning design and name will be printed on the Ecosa bus.

Download Entry Template

Pay $25 Registration Fee

All entries should be submitted by email in .pdf or .jpg format to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Bus Project: Phase Two
1 December 2009

After title and registration, a tune-up, and a thorough cleaning, our new bus is raring to hit the road for the spring semester. To keep the ball rolling on the Bus Project, this February we will be hosting Mardi Gras Fun Raising, an evening of wine, tapas, chocolate, and New Orleans Jazz, to raise money for this next phase of the project. The second phase will include a repaint or wrap of the exterior along with some interior upgrades. Ecosa will hold a Design Our Bus graphic design competition from February 10 through April 1, 2010. Entrants will be asked to create a concept for the exterior of the Ecosa bus and the winner will see their design come to fruition. Stay tuned for details!

By some miracle we're all still trying to understand, this mini-charter diesel bus, priced to sell, fell into our lap late Friday afternoon. Thanks to all of you, we were able to act fast and place the winning bid. That means our new bus was ENTIRELY funded by individual contributions!

There is still plenty to be done before we hit the road, but we've cleared a huge first hurdle. The upcoming Winter 2009 Newsletter will announce details on next steps, including The Bus Project Design Competition. In the meantime, thank you from all of us! You continue to inspire and make our lives brighter.

In the first phase of the Bus Project we will raise money through grant writing and fundraising for the purchase of the bus. During the second phase, we will hold a design competition to retrofit our bus so it says Ecosa (both figuratively and literally). To kick off the bus project, the Ecosa staff, with the help of alumni, board members, faculty, and supporters, will be working around the clock to raise $15,000 in just 15 days. We’ve done the math -- with 250 loyal Ecosans doing their part, each of us would have to donate $60 to reach our goal. So instead of asking you all for a $60 donation, we are asking each of you to convince just 4 people to donate $15 to our project.

ATTENTION ECOSANS, FAR AND NEAR This October 1-15, please join in our effort to raise $15,000 in 15 days, $15 at a time. Donations can be made by mail or web (click “Donate” in the left column of the homepage). Thank you!