Welcome to Design Your Habitat International Art Competitions Imagining Life Beyond Earth.
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Calling all artists, students, scientists, and dreamers to shape the future by creating bold visions of habitats and communities on a spaceship, the Moon, Mars or beyond.

We host core competitions for all ages, and regional activities with our partners for eligible participants. 
No matter where you are located, we have something for you! 
Winning artworks will be showcased online and in person as part of our global exhibits.
Explore the gallery. Learn. Share your vision. Shape what’s next.

​Submit your art! 

​​Create a visual or video artwork imagining sustainable living environments in space via multiple competitions.
Participate in the Core Competition for all ages.
Starting July 1st 2026, we will select exceptional art every January and July from submissions to the Core Competition. The best of these artworks will be showcased on SciArt Exchange social media, in our website gallery, and at in person events. Exceptional art will receive a $50 gift card.

Artwork will be judged on: Aesthetics and Skill, Creativity, Scientific Accuracy, and Fulfilled Intent to relay key elements of the project theme in an engaging, informative and inspiring way. 
IF YOU'RE SUBMITTING FOR REGIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE TECH FEST LIVE OR QPL, PLEASE SCROLL FURTHER FOR ADDITIONAL INFO.
Artwork guidelines: Images must be .jpg, .gif, .png or pdf files, with 25 Mb maximum file size. 
Video guidelines: Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and provide the link created on the online Entry Form. Select “view publicly” and do NOT allow embedding of comments, comment voting, video responses, video rating, or external sites in the video. (No greater than 90 seconds)
Share Your Artwork on social media using #DesignYourHabitat.
​Engage in one of our Regional Activities
Tech Fest Live Ignite the Future, Designing Communities for Living in Space: Building from the excitement of the World Cup, Houston area middle and high students and their communities are invited to explore how humans will live, work, and play in space. Participants express their vision through 2D artwork or a 60–90 second video. Best entries submitted to this regional competition will be showcased at Tech Fest Expo in November in Houston. Check out the resources below and get designing!
Be a part of the Iceland Eclipse
Design Your Habitat: Extreme Environments is a global creative challenge presented by SciArt Exchange, inviting artists, architects, designers, engineers, scientists, students, and visionaries to imagine the next frontier of human habitation.

​Create artwork that imagines habitats in extreme environments. 

Selected artwork will be showcased during Iceland Eclipse 2026, one of the world's premier gatherings celebrating science, music, art, exploration, and the wonder of the total solar eclipse.

​Learn more, here.
Past Activities
Queens Public Library STEAM Challenge: SciArt Exchange and the Queens Public Library partnered to engage teens in imagining and designing future communities for life beyond Earth. Participants created original 2D artwork and short videos inspired by living on the Moon, Mars, and in orbit, with select works featured by both organizations.​

Moon and Mars Innovation Challenge: Explore Mars and SciArt Exchange jointly presented a challenge inviting middle school and high school students to explore the craftsmanship, cultural knowledge, trade skills, and communication skills that would shape the next generation of Martian and Lunar habitats. Participants were asked to submit their Design Your Habitat poster and video entries.
Get help thinking, exploring and creating your ideal space habitat or community.

Connect Within Virtual Activities!

DYH connects participants of all ages - to a vibrant hub for interaction, collaboration, and creativity beyond traditional boundaries.
youtu.be/aB6pztDje9shttps://youtu.be/aB6pztDje9s

​Virtual Creativity Workshops and Webinars:
Connect with SciArt Exchange LIVE for art and science sessions, fostering a global community. Guided by a professional artist or scientist, participants will learn, engage in chat, and collaborate to broaden their horizons. 
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FREE Virtual Event Replay​

"Design Your habitat" Beginnings 

Banner artwork by artists Adrianna Allen and Ashley De Jesus
During the pandemic, we were all in isolation and confinement. Through Design Your Habitat we imagined our ideal living spaces, whether on Earth, in space, or on another planet. We shared our ideas, drawing inspiration from our isolated lifestyles, to envision what it would be like to explore space or settle on distant planets.

​We enjoyed engaging in fun activities under 8 themes related to our current Earth habitats and those on spacecrafts, stations, and outposts. The activities were designed for all ages but were particularly accessible to youth aged 10-18. The information is still helpful today!