Designed by Christopher Chilcoat, Kristin Kaineg and Adam Leviton.

"We had international interest this year," Kaineg said over the phone. "The week submissions were due, we got hundreds of entries per day."

The first annual juried graphic art competition, created by Kaineg, highlighted regional students' work through a small exhibition at a gallery at Shepherd. Now in its fourth year, the exhibition, held at the Blue Elephant Art Center in downtown Frederick , will feature work from across the nation.

Chilcoat and Leviton, who have since graduated from Shepherd but continue to help with "FLUX," said the competition is a great opportunity for students. Both artists, now living in Frederick , have had their work chosen for the show in the past, and this year they designed the "FLUX" poster.

"It's a really cool experience for students," said Leviton, who is now the senior web manager at Hood College. "And students can actually afford to put stuff in."

"The Addies (another annual graphic artist competition) are more formal, more stuffy, and the work isn't as entertaining," added Leviton, senior designer and adjunct professor at Hood College, though he admitted he's submitted his work to the ADDY awards.

"I tell my students it ("FLUX") will show them what they're up against," Leviton continued. "It brings together the best students."

Kaineg, an award-winning designer herself, used the first "FLUX" exhibit as part of her art class, allowing students to help organize and hang the exhibit as part of their grade. By the second year, she noticed their interest dwindling and decided to involve only those students (and alumni) who want to be involved.

Kaineg was formerly the education chairwoman on the AIGA Blue Ridge Board, which has also been instrumental in getting the exhibition organized -- most notably Cecilia Hersh, who serves on the board and jumped in this year with much of the "FLUX" preparations.

"I'm proud of what it's turned into," Kaineg said. "It's definitely worth all the hard work."

A portion of the proceeds from the competition entry fee goes toward an AIGA Blue Ridge scholarship, eligible for student members of AIGA Blue Ridge.

Per tradition, the exhibit runs one night only and will include digital and hard copy format.

Jpeg files from students are screened as slideshow projections. Last year, three projectors ran simultaneously, and this year there will be at least two.

The winning entries from each category (identity, packaging, publication, poster, web/interactive) are printed and hung in hardcopy form.

This year's judges are Greg Gibilisco (www.maya.com), Amanda Otter (www.ottercreate.com) and Craig Welsh (www.gowelsh.com). Past nationally recognized judges included Jeffrey Everett (El Jefe Design), Jessica Hische (Jessica Hische Design), John Foster (Bad People Good Things) and David Vogin (314 Design).

This is the first year that all the judging was completed electronically. In the past, judges would meet and, Kaineg pointed out, inevitably sway each other's votes through debates over the pieces.

"I think this works a little better," she said. "It's a little more honest this way."

Kaineg thinks part of the show's popularity is due to the low entry fee ($5 per piece or $20 for up to 10) but also said "FLUX" is popular and accessible to the public.

"It's a good experience to bring design to the public's eye," Kaineg said. "Design's so ubiquitous, we often overlook how much work was put into it."

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www.flux.aigablueridge.org