Photo Credit ©️ Schools Connections Committee
Each year, the Schools Connections Committee holds a scholarship competition for architecture students who are attending school in Virginia or attend an architecture school out-of-state but reside in Virginia. Cash prizes are awarded to winning students with funds coming from the Northern Virginia Chapter of the AIA, alongside matching funds from AIA National through a component matching scholarship grant program.
This year’s competition involved students creating a design to be placed on a standard white ceramic coffee mug. The aim of the competition was to design a graphic that would spark a conversation about architecture when the mug is viewed in someone’s hands.
Entries were solicited in September of 2025 and due in the middle of October. Submitted designs were judged based on composition, clarity, technique and an overall answer to ‘does this make me want to talk about architecture?’ Three winners were selected, each representing the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC). The winners were notified at the beginning of December and were presented with a scholarship check, as well as a mug with their winning design, at the Fall Semester’s final All-School Meeting.
This 2025 Mug Design Competition winners:
FIRST PLACE
– Berru Doğa Nas, Master’s student
Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
The texture, line weights, pop of color, and overall composition reimagines the 1001 building as a living architectural organism, pulling the viewer in. The hand-sketched plan, elevation, and perspective of the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center evoke pride for the school and passion for the architecture vocation, as well as the enduring importance of drawing by hand in a digital era. This design won over the judges through its clear communication of the universal architecture studio experience. A mug bearing this design invites endless conversations about craft, community, and the shared spirit of the architecture studio.
SECOND PLACE
-Ishmam Faiyaz Chowdhury, Master’s student
Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
The celebration of the formative journey to become an architect is clear in this design, weaving together iconic works by masters like Le Corbusier, Wright, Kahn, and Mies into a richly layered architectural collage. The strong use of texture is eye-catching, and the emphasis on shapes drawing the viewer’s eye across the design makes this a great conversation starter! It is a beautiful perspective that shows attention to detail with the differing types of foliage and materiality. Additionally, it is a great hand-sketched design that incorporates a refreshing dash of whimsy. This thoughtful composition invites viewers to trace their own inspirations and reflect on the architects who first opened the door to their creative journey.
THIRD PLACE
-Marjie Bartlett, Year 5 student
Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
This entry beautifully blends hand drawing with fantastical collaging, incorporating elements from Carlo Scarpa’s Brion Cemetery and Yakov Chernikhov’s Soviet Crane into a vibrant meditation on how ideas translate into built reality. The inclusion of a figure stepping through the mausoleum gates blurs the line between image and experience, inviting the viewer into the work. The use of multiple architectural elements creates a unique textural detail that is not only visually interesting but also emits a sense of coziness; perfect for drinking a hot mug of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!
Please congratulate the talented winners of the 2025 Mug Design Competition presented by the Schools Connections Committee. Thank you to all the students who entered their designs and participated in this competition.
– Jess M. Somgynari, AIA, 2025 Schools Connections Committee Co-Chair
Learn more about the SCC committee.
Published: 12/16/2025
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