2026 Earth Day Every Day Design Contest

Celebrate Earth: The Ground and Above

University Sustainability Practices announced Molly Van Ness, Office Specialist Senior, Global Futures Laboratory, as the winner of its Sixth Annual Earth Day Every Day Design Contest.

Van Ness will have her design, “Celebrate Earth: The Ground and Above,” printed on two custom tumblers by LOGO Brands and painted on the windows of the Sun Devil Fitness Complex on the ASU Tempe campus.

Rooted in the landscapes and living symbols of Arizona, her piece transforms the word “Earth” into a layered tribute to the natural world that surrounds and sustains us. Van Ness drew inspiration from native plants, wildlife, minerals and elements found across the state — copper and turquoise anchor the piece, reflecting both the state’s geology and ASU’s identity. Each letter in “Earth” represents a different ecological layer. 

• “E” highlights copper and turquoise found in the ground.
• “A” features native Arizona plants, including Palo Verde and Saguaro cactus blossoms.
• “R” represents Arizona’s aquatic life through the critically endangered Apache trout.
• “T” honors land animals, including the Arizona Ridge-nosed rattlesnake and the Ringtail. 

• “H” reaches skyward with the Cactus Wren and the two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly. 

   

Together, these elements capture Earth from Arizona’s perspective.

“To me, sustainability really means carefully balancing. We need to make sure nature — including us, plants, animals, rocks, minerals, etc. — is cared for so that we can continue this natural balance we experience with Earth,” said Van Ness.

Van Ness’s design draws on the Global Futures Laboratory’s call to keep Earth’s systems in balance and reflects sustainability efforts across ASU. If we borrow from one part of the ecosystem, we must give back to support its health and longevity.

Through “Celebrate Earth: The Ground and Above,” Van Ness reminds us that sustainability begins with awareness, responsibility and care for every layer of the world we share.

The second- and third-place winners, Sai Sruthi Kovur and Suma Udnoor, respectively, were awarded custom tumblers and gift cards to the LOGO Brands website.