Designathon 2012: Do you need a design hero?

You’ve got 24 hours to concept and create pro bono works for non-profits. Now, GO! Designathon is a 24-hour event where teams of volunteer Kutztown University Communication Design students along with professors and alumni, design and produce pro bono creative works for non-profit organizations. The 7th annual Designathon was held this weekend (March 30 — March 31) boasting 90 student volunteers and 30 non-profit organizations. The largest event in the KUCD Designathon’s history!

KUCD faculty invited me back to take part in this year’s event. I'm lucky enough to have been involved in the Designathon since its inception seven years ago. This weekend design marathon has become a part of my creative spirit and I’m honored and proud to be a part of this “use our powers for good” event. I’m impressed with the determination and drive of my KUCD Designathon brethren and must give kudos to my team members Heather Johnson, Justin Herb, Alyssa Kays, Kelsea Ashworth, Chloe Kunsman and Darren Krause.

Below is my attempt at documenting a whirlwind night of design, fun and laugher, design, scavenger hunts, hero/villain jeopardy, prizes, design, insomnia, COFFEE, games, movies, music, design... 

March 30, 2012

6:06PM

Designathon's Opening Reception

6:19PM

Opening the Designathon 2012 event! This year's theme: Do you need a design hero?

6:24PM

Yes, that's right: 90 volunteer student designers working for 24 hours equates to 2,472 hours of non-stop design time. That's $98,880 worth of donated design services!

6:35PM

Designers Heather Johnson, Justin Herb and Chloe Kunsman meeting with their client, Let's Go Outdoors (a weekly program offering urban families, individuals and/or organizations fun ways to participate in outdoor recreation activities and take part in once-a-month outdoor themed excursions.)

6:35PM

Designers Alyssa Kays, Kelsea Ashworth and Darren Krause meeting with Egypt Memorial Park.

8:13PM

The beginning of our concept, mood board wall. It's all about getting inspired!

8:45PM

Research, research, research! Research = exploring options and getting inspired at this early point in the process.

9:32PM

We need some goof off time too. Chair races down the Communication Design hallway. 

10:52PM

This year's theme was "Do you need a hero?" I'd like you to meet the mascots: heros and villains!

Winner of best costume: Poison Ivy. Strike a pose Ivy!

Batman's pose just cracked me up! 

11:16PM

My initiation into the headband crew. While I thought I looked like a Roman statue, I was asked on numerous occasions if I was going to play racquetball!

March 31, 2012

1:41AM

Professor Vicki Meloney and designer Ashley look fresh as a spring rose at this hour, no?!

We've decided on a concept for Let's Go Outdoors's poster series!

Yeah baby, we have two! ;)

Here's an idea, why not include some sort of dimensionality to really bring the outdoors to life?!

2:10AM

Sketches: getting quick ideas down on paper. Cast a wide net when formulating ideas. Remember, the more ideas the better.

We've narrowed the concept down: mother nature is just around the corner. The left is a  city block. Look to the right and you find the great outdoors. It's so close!

The posters are expected to run in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We've added additional messaging to connect to Philly: Mamma Nature's giving some brotherly love!

3:19AM

Marker comps cut out out and assembled old school diorama style. Do you remember making those in elementary school?!

4:35AM

Caught you sleeping. Isn't this against the rules? I have to read the fine print of the contract. 

4:38AM

Digital illustration of the city.

6:40AM

You always need a little fine art added into the mix. Nature is represented through watercolor illustration. 

Chloe, looking like a woodland nymph! As the night continued on, this mystical creature seemed to become scarier and scarier! The watercolor smudging, her tired eyes... hysterical!

Watercolor nature detail.

12:00PM

We're building the diorama!

Detail of construction in process. 

2:00PM

Winter.

Spring.

Summer.

Fall.

2:30PM

Digital manipulation of the images.

3:30PM

Go light or dark... Decisions. Decisions. We're trying to convince "urbanites" to go outdoors, right? The black background might be too scary. The white feels light, happy and fresh. The vector character used in their logo is camping in the outdoors in the fall poster. In summer he's fishing. Winter, snow tubing. 

5:30PM

Printing the files!

5:47PM

Ugh, it's 5:47 and we're still mounting the printouts. The final presentation begins at 6PM!

Mounting madness ensues!

6:04PM

Did you read that image? It's over! OVER!

In conclusion

Designers have chosen to meld their artistic gifts into the highly developed art of graphic communication. There is power in our visual voice and with this power comes great responsibility. One visual and one word can affect the lives of many. The Designathon is an opportunity to continue to teach this vital lesson to the next generation of visual communicators. I am proud of what you have accomplished this weekend. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep or perhaps it’s the overload of coffee and food, but my heart is swelling with pride as I write this. Together we created beautiful work and helped a lot of organizations that don’t always have the chance to get their important message out. Now, let’s get some sleep!