UDesign Studio (Creative Design Agency)
Leading the Primary Design Club
at the University of Toronto
Context
About UDesign Studio
In my final year of undergrad (2023-2024), I took on the role of President at UDesign Studio, leading an executive team of 8 and managing 30 student designers at the University of Toronto's largest design club, simultaneously operating as a creative design agency.
Established in 2011 to meet the growing demand of high-quality and affordable design work, UDesign Studio continues to offer a wide range of services —including advertising, brand development, creative consulting, graphic design, illustration, logo design, motion design, product design, videography, and web design— while giving student designers valuable, hands-on experience working with real clients. Some of our notable clients include the University of Toronto Students' Union, Victoria College's registrar, and Sunnybrook Hospital.
Contributions & Impact
As the President of UDesign Studio, I organised weekly design workshops, led 3 client projects as a Project and Product Manager, and founded a design competition on campus.
Design Workshops & Events
With the mission of crafting a culture around mentorship, engagement, and collaboration, I organised weekly design workshops where student designers shared their expertise in areas they were passionate about. These workshops played a significant role in growing the club's reach to over 1,200 students. By the end of the year, we even had an exciting collaboration with Figma Education attracting over 200 students across Toronto.
Client Projects
As the Project/Product Manager, I led 3 client projects, overseeing teams of 2-4 designers per project. I managed project timelines, coordinated communication between engineers and stakeholders, and handled administrative tasks such as designer compensation and client budgeting. These efforts resulted in the successful development of 2 websites and a mobile application.
UDesignathon
Recognising the growing interest and demand for design in tech, I founded the University of Toronto's first 24-hour design competition. With the idea sparking in my head in January 2024, I assembled and led a team of 6, managed venue logistics, secured $6,000 in funding and sponsorships, and coordinated over 20 volunteers and guest speakers. In less than 4 months, the event successfully attracted 120 design participants. Read more about this experience using the link below:
