Loyola Launches Made to Belong Design Contest
Loyola's Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging is inviting students to express their view of belonging through a doll-sized design contest.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in College Life
Loyola's Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging has launched its first-ever contest, Made to Belong: Woven Perspectives, running through November. Students submit a sewn doll-sized design or a paper doll collage expressing their perspective on belonging.
Why it matters
The contest gives students a creative outlet to share how they understand belonging on campus. The CSIB says the winning design may be incorporated into its yearly shirt, and a second contest is planned for the spring.
The winning artist receives a $75 prize, and the submission deadline is November 20, 2026. The winner will be chosen December 4 at the CSIB's Desserts in December event, though the number of entries received has not been reported.
The players
Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging (CSIB)
The Loyola University Chicago office that runs inclusion and belonging programming for students and organized the Made to Belong contest.
James Thomas
The director of inclusive excellence and community at the CSIB, who has led the center for nine years.
The details
Entrants receive a doll-sized dressmaker's atelier from the CSIB, including a mannequin, fabric pack and miniature sewing kit, which can be picked up in Suite 116 of the Damen Student Center. Students who prefer not to sew may submit a collage on a paper doll instead, and late participation is welcomed.
Timeline
November 2026: The contest runs through the month.
November 20, 2026: Submission deadline for Made to Belong.
December 4, 2026: Winning design chosen at Desserts in December.
Spring 2027: A second CSIB contest is planned.
Culture Shift
The contest reflects a growing number of universities using hands-on creative projects, such as the CSIB's sewing-based design challenge, to build a sense of belonging among students. The planned spring follow-up suggests the format may become a recurring part of the CSIB's programming.
Chicago-area students who want to take part can pick up a sewing kit at Suite 116 of Loyola's Damen Student Center before the November 20 deadline. Students without sewing experience can enter with a paper doll collage instead.
The takeaway
Campus creative contests like Made to Belong give students a low-barrier way to share their experiences of inclusion, and participation does not require sewing skills. Students interested in entering should pick up a kit early to meet the November 20 deadline.
What happens next
The winning design will be chosen December 4, 2026, at the CSIB's Desserts in December event, and a second contest is planned for spring 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on College Life in Chicago.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Loyola Phoenix.
