Designathon 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 9am to 9pm

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design students and faculty members (and countless gallons of coffee) will be tapped to create professional-quality design materials to benefit local non-profits during PCA&D’s 17th annual Designathon on February 8, 2025.

Designathon is an annual event held by the college’s American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Chapter (AIGA). The event provides professional-quality design services at no charge to area non-profits and to the community at large. Students at PCA&D who participate in the Designathon gain real-world experience in creating projects for clients under a tight, one-day deadline. They learn that non-profits have very real marketing needs in order to be successful and that strong graphic design on well-organized collateral pieces is a vital component in successful communications and marketing plans. More importantly, students experience the value of giving back to the community.

Want to be part of Designathon ’25?

If you are a non-profit with the need for high-quality design work, you can submit an application to be part of Designathon. Here’s how:

Complete the Designathon ’25 application and email it to Maria Hostetter, Chair of Graphic Design at mhostetter@pcad.edu.
If your business is selected for designathon, send logos, photos, and other pertinent material to mhostetter@pcad.edu.
Select a representative or representatives to virtually meet with your assigned student group at 9am on February 8 and give a brief presentation about your organization and the design work you are requesting.
The same representative(s) will need to return at 9pm for the student group presentation, to accept the completed project.
Follow the visibility guidelines by sharing your organization’s participation in Designathon and giving credit to PCA&D students for their work.

Questions about the application and process may be sent to Maria Hostetter, Chair of Graphic Design.

Questions about the visibility guidelines may be sent to Daina Savage, Vice President of Strategic Communications.