Inspire Oakland Design Challenge: Community-Powered Creative Opportunity for Emerging BIPOC Designers to Build Portfolios and Spark Change Through Public Design Campaigns

Inspire Oakland Design Challenge
Location: BRIDGEGOOD Studio, 95 Washington Street, Oakland, CA
Open To: Emerging designers, student creatives, and early-career visual artists
Cost to Participants: $0 — always tuition-free
Design Prompt: “What about Oakland inspires you?”

Since 2009, BRIDGEGOOD’s Inspire Oakland Design Challenge has offered a bold invitation to emerging designers: tell the visual story of your city — and help shape the future of design in the Bay Area.

This annual challenge engages student creatives in a high-impact, community-powered campaign where design meets purpose. Participants are asked to create original artwork that answers one question: What about Oakland inspires you? The best submissions are selected for public display on digital billboards, transit ads, merchandise, and more — providing real-world exposure for student talent and authentic storytelling for the city.

This is more than a design contest. It’s a gateway to opportunity.

Why This Matters

For many students, Inspire Oakland is the first time their artwork is seen by thousands — on freeway billboards, public buses, in train stations, and on social media. It’s also the first time they’ve received professional mentorship, feedback from working designers, and the chance to build a real portfolio case study.

In a region where access to creative careers is often gated by privilege, BRIDGEGOOD opens the doors — and levels the playing field.

This program is 100 percent tuition-free, with no cost to students and no barriers to entry. Winners receive public recognition, cash stipends, and official certificates of achievement. All participants gain exposure, community, and professional development.

Program Benefits

Participants in Inspire Oakland receive:

Real-World Design Experience
Create a professional-level public art campaign with impact across digital and physical media.

Portfolio-Ready Case Studies
Students use this work to strengthen applications, resumes, and pitch decks for internships and design roles.

Mentorship and Coaching
Access to BRIDGEGOOD’s mentor network, including designers from Adobe, Google, Salesforce, and more.

Free Access to BRIDGEGOOD Open Labs
Through bridgegood.org/vip
, participants receive software access, space to work, and resources to grow.

Public Recognition and Celebration
The top 20 designs receive certificates. The top 6 are honored at a live awards ceremony and receive cash stipends (amount based on donor support).

Community Impact
The campaign’s messaging — focused on equity, inspiration, and local pride — reaches thousands of Bay Area residents.

Equity-Centered and Inclusive by Design

Inspire Oakland welcomes all emerging creatives — regardless of formal training or background. The program prioritizes equity in access, with an emphasis on supporting:

First-generation college students

Community college learners

Women of color

Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander artists

LGBTQIA+ and multilingual creatives

BRIDGEGOOD ensures that students from traditionally underrepresented communities are given space, support, and platforms to thrive.

Past Student Impact

Over 1,300 students have participated since 2009

Dozens of winning designs have been published across public platforms

Alumni have gone on to work at companies such as YouTube, Meta, and Etsy

Many cite Inspire Oakland as the “first time they felt seen as a real designer”

How You Can Support

You can be part of the movement that amplifies youth voices and celebrates creativity in public space.

1. Donate

Support stipends for student winners, production of billboards and bus ads, and access to mentorship and learning tools.

2. Volunteer

Design professionals, artists, and tech workers are invited to serve as:

Portfolio reviewers

Campaign judges

Workshop facilitators

Mentors for emerging talent

3. Promote

Help us amplify student voices by sharing their designs and stories across your company, social media, and networks. This is a celebration of Oakland — and a call to action for design with purpose.

4. Partner

Does your company want to sponsor the next public campaign? Host a student cohort? Bring your team to BRIDGEGOOD’s studio for a day of creative service? We’d love to collaborate.

Join the Movement

At BRIDGEGOOD, we believe design can be both beautiful and powerful — a tool for visibility, equity, and community change. Inspire Oakland turns student imagination into public inspiration.

Support this program and help launch the next generation of BIPOC designers.

The future of design is inclusive. The canvas is our city. The time is now.

Donate through Benevity
Visit: bridgegood.org/donate

Volunteer: bridgegood.org/volunteer

Campaign Info: bridgegood.org/vip

Contact: shaun@bridgegood.org | elisa@bridgegood.org