Designathon ’23 brings 15th annual event full circle

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Wednesday, March 1st, 2023

At last weekend’s 15th Designathon, the annual event came full circle.

About two dozen students, seven faculty, and seven alumni worked for 12 hours to deliver new logos, brochures, marketing materials, and more to eight non-profit organizations. And not only were alumni represented in the faculty who assisted, they also this year were represented in the non-profit clients who took part.

Rachel Herr, a 2018 Graphic Design graduate of PCA&D, attended Designathon this year on behalf of Camp Possibilities, a weeklong summer camp for children who have Type 1 Diabetes. Her Designathon team created brand standards and guidelines, flyers and brochures about camp and volunteer recruitment, and social media templates.

“It was my idea to bring our organization to Designathon,” Herr says. “With being a full-time designer, several freelance opportunities, and being very close to the organization, this was a great way to gain additional perspectives while benefiting the current student designers and without overworking myself.”

And Herr knows what a lift is required by Designathon: She’d already participated for three years as a student and another three years as a PCA&D graduate.

“I’m thrilled with the outcome,” says Herr, who also had a chance to explore spaces like The LookOut and the CoLab which are new since her time here as a student. “The team of designers provided everything I asked for — and more!

“They certainly gave the branding a facelift with the additional assets they created — icons and a pattern — that can be used across all future collateral. … I’m also excited to return to Designathon next year again as an alum, and continue to provide design work for other non-profits.”

15 years of designing for good

Camp Possibilities this year was one of eight non-profits to benefit from Designathon work. Others included Christiana Historical Society, The Common Wheel, Lancaster Makes, League of Women Voters of Lancaster County, Rocky Springs Carousel Association, Water Science Institute, and Wayside Presbyterian Church.

“Our 15th year designing for good!” celebrated Prof. Pam Barby, Chair of the Graphic Design Department and Designathon organizer. “It was a blast working together in the LookOut space with a lot of collaboration. It always amazes me how it all comes together … the talent and professionalism of our alumni, students, and faculty.

“I am genuinely humbled at the outpouring of support from the College, alumni, students, faculty, and all the organizations that we have worked with over the years,” Barby said. “And we have helped more than 150 organizations over this time period. When you think of how we have helped these organizations and then how they reach out to help others … it’s amazing to be part of that process, helping to make not only these non-profits but also our surrounding communities, stronger and more vital.”

This year’s participants

This year’s participants included:

Students: Renee Althouse ’24, Graphic Design; Aiyana Alvarado ’25, Graphic Design; Elizabeth Gregory ’26, Fine Art; Tyler Handa ’23, Graphic Design; Cleo Kendrick ’24, Graphic Design; Jacob Kinney ’25, Illustration; Alisdair Mackenzie ’25, Graphic Design; Ryan Makowski ’25, Graphic Design; Alex Maxwell ’25, Graphic Design; Rachel O’Brien ’23, Photography & Video; Frankie Reed ’23, Graphic Design; Maddie Reynolds ’25, Graphic Design; Emma Ries ’26, Graphic Design; Molly Ruch ’26; RJ Scott ’24, Graphic Design; Alexander Serna ’23, Graphic Design; Rachel Sinclair ’23, Animation & Game Art; Emily Soun ’25, Graphic Design; Bailey Stechman ’25, Graphic Design; Vivian Tu ’23, Graphic Design; Taj Younger ’26, Illustration.

Alumni: Casey Capece ’18; Lisa DeAngeleo ’13; Amanda Herr ’21; Madeleine Lyash ’21; Chase Rusinko 22; Katie Smith ’14; Aeri Tulayan ’21.

Faculty/Staff: Pam Barby, Jim Costanzo, Maria Cummings-Miller, George Dailey, Bill Dussinger, Tom Newmaster, Scott Trobaugh.