GSS Swag Design Winners Spotlight
🎉 First Place Winner & People’s Choice Award: Rosalyn Carr
Rosalyn Carr
Rosalyn Carr is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. They conduct research in the Digital Health Innovation Lab at BC Children's Hospital, where they explore ways to improve the communication of research results to study participants. Outside of research, Rosalyn spends their time running the UBC Pottery Club and volunteering with the Potters Guild of BC.
Behind the Design: Rosalyn Carr’s Concept
My design captures a variety of aspects and key features of UBC. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum Whale Skeleton, the Clock Tower, the Rose Garden, and the Reconciliation Pole. Alongside these are various smaller symbols; the maple leaf, the cherry blossom, a book, a beaker, and other small symbols familiar to students. All of these come together as familiar and memorable emblems of UBC.
Cast Your Vote!
The designs are in, and now it’s your turn to support the ones that speak to you! Pick your top design. Your votes will decide the Popular Choice Award winner who’ll receive a $50 gift card (and endless bragging rights, of course).
Online voting closed at the end of June 19.
Raj Parekh
I wanted to encapsulate the feeling of being a graduate student - the fun, curiosity, chaos, and love for free food - in a single design. There are references to UBC staples, such as Blue Chip and Vancouver rain. I made it relatable and funny with mentions of caffeine addiction and imposter syndrome - feelings universal to every graduate student. The QR code leads to the GSS website, signifying that there are always supports and resources available for students who need them.
Stephanie Broder
I wanted to reference the natural landscape of UBC as the front focus of the design, so went with silhouetted trees. I also wanted to include a reference to Vancouver- crows were a natural choice, and the posture of this one represents the Vancouver legend, Canuck the Crow. For the three figures, I wanted each one to represent an aspect of graduate student life. From left to right, they represent: writing, researching, and studying.
Parsa Rajabi
The Graduate Commons Knot is a monochrome linework design that represents graduate students arriving from many paths and forming one shared community. Its interwoven circular shape reflects connection across disciplines, cultures, and identities, while the open center suggests student voice, advocacy, and dialogue. A subtle roofline references the GSS as a home for support, services, and belonging. The continuous line avoids clichés like caps or shields, keeping the design modern and inclusive. Because it uses bold single-colour strokes, it can scale cleanly across T-shirts, totes, stickers, notebooks, mugs, and other swag items without losing clarity in print or embroidery applications.
Susan Du
This design shows the diverse and vibrant academic environment of UBC. The large UBC letters are filled with campus scenes and symbols. These details reflect both the daily experiences of students and the overall spirit of learning. With a playful visual style, the design highlights UBC as a place where nature, community, creativity, and academic life come together.
Rosalyn Carr
My design captures a variety of aspects and key features of UBC. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum Whale Skeleton, the Clock Tower, the Rose Garden, and the Reconciliation Pole. Alongside these are various smaller symbols; the maple leaf, the cherry blossom, a book, a beaker, and other small symbols familiar to students. All of these come together as familiar and memorable emblems of UBC.
Please Note: One of the student designs has been removed due to image resolution limitations that would impact print quality on swag items. We greatly appreciate the time, creativity, and effort that went into all of the submissions, and thank each applicant for sharing their thoughtful designs.
Only current UBC Vancouver grad students can vote — and just once, so make it count!
To count a successful vote, after selecting your top choice, please fill out your name and student number.
