UDesignathon 2024
My Designathon Diaries
Context
Join me through the excitement and chaos of founding and directing a designathon.
Leading UDesign Studio and observing a growing interest in design, I wanted to create an event where student designers could learn, collaborate, and gain mentorship from industry professionals. This vision became UDesignathon—a 24-hour design challenge where students, working in teams of four, developed solutions for the prompt: “How might we design products or services that facilitate collaboration in teams?”
Overseeing over 20 organisers and volunteers, managing venue logistics, securing $6000 in sponsorship/funding, and attracting more than 120 student participants in less than 3 months, I founded UDesignathon.
Thank you to our partners: University of Toronto - Faculty of Information, University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU), Notion, Fantuan.
The Event in Pictures
Learn more about the event HERE.
So many student designers ready to embark on a 24-hour design challenge.
After reading through 120+ applications, I selected 80 student designers to be a part of UDesignathon. Seeing the amount of talent on campus was so inspiring!
Opening ceremony including event details and project theme reveal.
I chose 'collaboration' as the designathon theme as cross-functional teamwork has gained greater importance in our post-pandemic world of remote and hybrid work environments.
Students working in collaboration, attending workshops, and receiving mentorship.
Over the 24-hours, my goal was to provide:
The opportunity to collaborate, network, and present in-person.
Mentorship and workshops for new and experienced designers.
Food.
Industry professionals coming in to judge student projects and decide winners.
I learned so much by connecting with all of our participants, mentors and judges.
This experience is one I will never forget as I move forward in my career!
