Students from KU’s Communication Design program won 17 awards at the American Advertising Awards Thursday, March 5. They took home seven Gold ADDYs, nine Silver ADDYs and one Best of Show.

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.

Cheers! During the winter session, three students—Sydney R., Neece J., and Sophia G.—from KUCD were accepted into a study abroad program in London, England. The experience gave them the opportunity to explore the city while immersing themselves in its typography, food, and cultural landmarks.

Here is what they said about their trip:

Having the opportunity to visit London and see a new city through the eyes of a graphic designer is something I am going to keep with me throughout my career. I am grateful to have visited and learned from various museums and historical sites. I felt constantly inspired, even when learning about things completely unrelated to the arts.

—Sydney R.

This study abroad experience taught me the importance of every individual’s authentic story, the role faith plays in identity, the struggles of finding a sense of self from colonization and diaspora, how writing, artwork, and community can help find a sense of belonging, and that we should ALWAYS question how information is being presented to us. This trip has given me a newfound hope for the future I want for myself, and this will be something I will never ever forget.

—Neece J.

Studying abroad in London has taught me so much, and I’m so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity. I was able to see astounding pieces of art and architecture that I had never seen before. Thanks to this amazing trip, I will have a lifetime of unforgettable memories.

—Sophia G.

Interested in studying abroad in London? Find out more here: https://sites.google.com/view/kutztown-london-program/home

Eleven students, associate professor Dannell MacIlwraith and associate professor Summer Doll-Myers attended the American Advertising Awards Thursday, March 13, at Cedar Crest College in Allentown. Communication Design students received 20 awards, including Best in Show, five Gold and 14 Silver Awards. All gold Addy winners will automatically be entered into the national Addy Awards.

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Our 34th Annual Communication Design Senior Portfolio review was another smashing success last night. From 6–9pm, 27 design agencies, with 51 designer and creative director attendees, reviewed 46 students’ portfolios. The attendees were highly impressed with the students’ work, with some noting it was the most outstanding they had seen among art and design programs in the region. The clients provided valuable feedback and encouraged the students to approach graduation and entry into the professional workforce with confidence. Several also expressed interest in following up with students for potential interviews.

As a bonus, 32 of the 51 attendees are KUCD alumni, ranging from 1999–2024. WOW! We are very grateful to have a supportive alumni network. Several of our emeritus faculty attended as well.

I would like to thank our KUCD faculty, Margaret Noel, Kathy Traylor, and Dean Brad Shope for their continued support of this event. I couldn’t do it without all of you!

You can view our graduating students’ portfolios here: https://kucd.kutztown.edu/alumni-showcase/. Notably, Ian McDonald was awarded the prestigious Young Ones Portfolio Award by The One Club for Creativity, an internationally recognized competition. He distinguished himself among graduating students through multiple competitive rounds to earn the top honor—an exceptional achievement.

On Friday, February 21st, the Communication Design program (Art & Design Department) hosted its 17th annual Designathon from 8 AM to 10 PM, our largest event of the year. We had 107 students registered, ranging from freshmen eager to become part of the CD family to seniors who will act as team leaders, as well as 8 alumni to create designs for 23 local nonprofits. In addition, 8 faculty members oversaw the design teams.

The event began with breakfast and sign-in at 8 AM, followed by the client kickoff at 9 AM. Students then brainstormed, sketched, and created final designs with production ready files for the clients, culminating in a presentation for the clients at 9 PM.

This year, the design projects ranged from logos for a cat rescue organization to a social media campaign aiming to reach the Guinness World Record for the largest soda tab collection by an organization. As always, our goal is to foster a sense of creating for the greater good. It’s crucial for our designers to engage with the community, and this event offers them the invaluable opportunity to work with real clients, gaining hands-on experience that enhances their learning — all while having a bit of fun!

Designathon Team:

Professor Vicki Meloney
Professor Summer Doll-Myers
Office Manager Kathy Traylor
Senior CD student organizer Lein Nguyen