Budding fashion designers are being offered a $10,000 prize for creating a winning new look for McDonald's restaurant staff across the country.

The competition, called There's Nothing Uniform About $10,000, is open to design students and McDonald's staff and will be judged by fashion designers Tanya Carlson and Cara Cotton.

The winning uniform design will be worn by 6000 employees nationwide.

"While many think of fashion design as the glamorous gear gracing runways, there's also a commercial reality to fashion design ¨C and creating an attractive and functional shirt for the busy McDonald's crew is a good challenge for any designer," Carlson said.

McDonald's human resources director Evelyn Gates said the competition could provide someone with "that all important big break".

There are also prizes of $5000 and $2000 for second and third placings.