Designathon 2026 Brings 25 Nonprofits and 111 Students Together for a Day of Impactful Design
Kutztown University’s Communication Design program hosted its 18th annual Designathon on Friday, Feb. 13, transforming the Sharadin Arts Building into a hub of creativity, collaboration, and community engagement.
This year, 111 students partnered with 25 nonprofit organizations for a 12-hour creative sprint dedicated to solving real-world design challenges. From logos and brand identities to websites, posters, social media campaigns, and motion graphics, students delivered thoughtful, strategic solutions tailored to each organization’s mission and audience.
The day began with team assignments and client meetings, where students quickly immersed themselves in understanding each organization’s needs. What followed was an intensive, fast-paced design experience that required leadership, communication, adaptability, and teamwork. By evening, teams presented polished concepts directly to their clients—many of whom expressed excitement and gratitude for the high-quality work produced in just one day.
Now in its 18th year, Designathon has become a defining experience within KU’s Communication Design program. Over the years, the event has donated well over one million dollars’ worth of professional design services to nonprofit partners across the region. More importantly, it has provided students with invaluable experiential learning—bridging classroom theory with real-world application.
Designathon continues to reflect the program’s commitment to community engagement and to preparing students not only as skilled designers, but as compassionate, civic-minded professionals.
