BIRD-SAFE DECAL DESIGN CHALLENGE
Fact: Birds can’t see glass.
Help create a bird-friendly campus! Submit your design concept for window decals that make glass surfaces visible to birds.
The winning design will be used to retrofit windows at a campus hot spot for bird strikes, preventing thousands of impact-related deaths and injuries annually.
Check back here on February 27 for more details and the link to submit!
Questions? Email CampusAsLab_OCS@umich.edu
THE PROBLEM
Why Birds Collide with Buildings
Most bird-building collisions happen during daylight hours, when birds mistake reflections of trees, sky, or landscape for open space — or see through transparent glass to vegetation on the other side. These aren't rare accidents; they're a systemic, preventable problem.
The University of Michigan conducts seasonal bird collision inventories and uses that data to update building design standards. This competition is one more step in that work — turning a high-risk window into a canvas.
INSTALLATION SITE
Where your design will live
The winning design will be installed as a full-scale window mural on the elevated glass walkway connecting Weiser Hall and the North University Building (NUB) — one of the most collision-prone areas identified in U-M's bird monitoring data.
U-M's Commitment
The Office of Campus Sustainability, the Arts Initiative, and LSA are partnering to address bird collisions through both policy and creativity. Your design could become a permanent part of campus — and a conversation starter about biodiversity and our built environment.
Walkway: Weiser Hall ↔ North University Building
The installation spans six large panels & six small panels. You may submit a design for all six panels (continuous or individual compositions) or for a single panel. There is no limit to the number of designs you may submit.
HOW TO ENTER
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Designs must meet the following criteria to be considered.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to U-M students only
All artwork must be original — no AI-generated imagery
You must hold the legal rights to any content submitted
Theme
Nature-inspired imagery is encouraged
Consider subjects related to courses taught in Weiser Hall or NUB
Any original, thoughtful concept is welcome
Why the 2"×2" spacing rule?
Bird-safe film works by breaking up the visual uniformity of glass. The 2"×2" grid is the standard spacing that allows birds to recognize the surface as a barrier. Any unfilled spaces will be supplemented with dots to ensure effectiveness.
Design Specs
Use the provided .ai gridded templates (2"×2" grid)
Every 2"×2" area must contain a line, dot, or design element — no blank spaces
No text in the design
Artwork must be fully vectorized for scalability
Final decal will print in white only
File Submission
Accepted formats: .png, .jpeg, .pdf, or .zip (for .ai files)
Keep your original .ai file — winners will be asked to provide it
Submit via the Design Submission Form
COMPETITION TIMELINE
Key Dates
Feb 27 Competition Opens
Templates available for download.
Mar 27 Designs Due
All submissions must be received by end of day.
Apr 17 Winner Announced
Selected designer(s) notified and publicly announced.
May–Aug Printing & Approvals
Decal production and facilities review.
September Installation
Mural installed at the start of fall migratory season, coinciding with U-M's next Bird Collision Inventory.
GET STARTED
READY TO design?
Download the templates, create your design on the 2"×2" gridded .ai file, and submit through the form (opens 2/27).
Questions? Reach out to CampusAsLab_OCS@umich.edu before the March 27 deadline.