Mission Patch Competition.

Competition Brief

The Australian Universities Rocket Competition (AURC) is excited to announce the launch of its 2026 Mission Patch Design Competition, an initiative aimed at supporting and showcasing young creative talent within the community.

Participants are invited to design an original mission patch that fits within a 7 cm diameter and is suitable for embroidery. The selected design will help represent the identity and spirit of this year’s competition.

Submissions must be submitted below by 29 May 2026. All entries will be reviewed by the AURC team, with winners to be announced on 8 June 2026.

AURC encourages all aspiring designers to get involved and looks forward to seeing a wide range of creative and innovative submissions.

The winning design will receive:

  • A complimentary AURC 2026 merchandise package.

  • A featured section on the AURC website showcasing the mission patch and its designer.

  • A free spectator’s ticket to attend the AURC 2026 Launch Event.

Design Requirements

Mandatory Elements

  • The design must include the text “AURC” clearly visible.
  • The design must incorporate official AURC colours.
    • Gold: HEX #d6b93d
    • Navy: HEX #143955
  • The patch must include a defined outer border to ensure a clean embroidered edge.

Size & Format

  • The full patch must not exceed 7 cm in width.
  • The patch can be any shape, but it must have space for a border around the edge to accomodate text.
  • Designs should be created in a clear, scalable format.
  • Designs need to be submitted in both .SVG and high-resolution .PNG format.

Design Guidelines

  • The patch should reflect themes of rocketry, aerospace, engineering, or competition.
  • Keep the design bold, simple, and recognisable from a distance.

Embroidery Requirements

To ensure designs can be accurately manufactured as embroidered patches:

  • Use solid (block) colours only — no gradients, fades, or transparency effects.
  • Avoid fine details or very thin lines (minimum line thickness ~0.5–1 mm recommended).
  • Ensure text is legible at small scale (avoid overly intricate fonts).
  • Limit the number of colours (recommended max 6–8 colours).
  • Avoid small gaps or tightly packed elements that may merge during stitching.
  • Ensure sufficient contrast between adjacent colours.
  • Do not rely on shading or subtle tonal differences to convey detail.

MISSION PATCH DESIGN SUBMISSION