A design contest to develop four new Welcome to Nevada signs is underway. The contest will be conducted within Nevada’s high schools and is geared to students enrolled in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Level 2 or higher graphic arts courses, although each school may determine eligibility. The winning signs will be installed on state roadways this summer.
“Our Welcome to Nevada signs provide a critical first touch-point for our visitors and residents returning home,” Gov. Brian Sandoval said. “The current signs are outdated and do not offer a consistent look. It’s important to ensure everyone has a warm greeting that conveys the vibrant brand that is the new Nevada.”
The Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, under the direction of Gov. Sandoval and in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation, is administering the contest, which began March 1 and will run through April 25. For information, contest rules and timeline, visit the TravelNevada contest webpage, TravelNevada.com/pages/2016-sign-contest.
A winning sign will be chosen for each of four regions in the state: northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast. Because the entry signs are an important component of the state’s identity, the designs must be guided by elements of the state brand: Nevada: A World Within. A State Apart. Contest entrants can find information about brand adherence, as well as sign dimensions and more on the TravelNevada contest webpage.
“These young people have quite a challenge with having to convey the brand elements; the specific regional, cultural and natural resources; and welcome travelers, all within a limited space,” Claudia Vecchio, director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, said. “We look forward to seeing how these young people incorporate the brand and perceive the state through the design of the signs.”
The contest also showcases Nevada’s Career and Technical Education programs and the young talent in those programs, according to Michael Raponi, director of the Office of Career Readiness, Adult Learning & Education Options, Nevada Department of Education.
“Nevada’s CTE curriculum offers young people a solid foundation for building job skills, and this contest will challenge students in a real-world environment,” Raponi said.
