designathon
About
This Designathon invites students to explore the conference theme Entangle through a collaborative design process. Working in teams of 2–4, participants will respond to a prompt connected to the relationships between humans, technologies, and environments across interconnected systems.
Teams will move through research, ideation, and prototyping to examine how interactions shape the world around us. This is an opportunity to experiment with design as a way to understand complex, intertwined processes and systems.
THEME: Design and Technology
DATE: March 20th - March 22nd
LOCATIONS: Center for Design, ISEC
9:00
Opening Ceremony
Design Team
Welcome to the Designathon! Join us for an introduction to this year's theme, team formation, and an overview of the event schedule and judging criteria.
ATRIUM
10:00
Design Sprint Begins
All Teams
Teams receive their prompts and begin the research and ideation phase. Mentors will be available to provide guidance and answer questions.
WORKSHOP ROOMS
12:00
Lunch Break
All Participants
Take a break, refuel, and network with other participants and mentors. Food will be provided in the main atrium.
ATRIUM
1:00
Prototyping Phase
All Teams
Teams move into prototyping their solutions. Focus on creating tangible representations of your ideas that communicate your design vision.
WORKSHOP ROOMS
3:00
Mentor Check-ins
Industry Mentors
Scheduled check-ins with industry mentors to receive feedback on your prototypes and refine your presentation strategy.
BREAKOUT ROOMS
4:00
Final Presentations
All Teams
Each team presents their design solution to the panel of judges. Presentations should be 5 minutes with 2 minutes for Q&A.
MAIN STAGE
5:30
Judging & Deliberation
Judges Panel
Judges review all submissions and deliberate on winners based on the established criteria: originality, functionality, impact, and presentation.
PRIVATE
6:00
Awards Ceremony
Event Hosts
Join us for the announcement of winners, prize distribution, and closing remarks. Celebrate the incredible work of all participants!
ATRIUM
Prizes
1ST PLACE
2ND PLACE
3RD PLACE
Judges
Name
Title
Name
Title
Name
Title
Name
Title
Judging Criteria
Originality + Creativity
Does the project present a unique idea or a new perspective on a familiar challenge?
Collaboration & Process
Does the work show clear collaboration, coordination, and thoughtful planning among team members?
Functionality
How well does it function? Is it usable, intuitive, and does it deliver on its core purpose?
Presentation
How well was the project presented? Are the concepts explained clearly? Do the visuals or slides support the project effectively?
Impact
How big of an impact does it make? Does it address key challenges effectively?
Thoughtfulness & Technical Execution
How well is the concept realized? Is the technical implementation polished and does it respond to the prompt?