Designathon Begins Today at Kutztown University

KUTZTOWN, PA (03/23/2018) Kutztown University Communication Design Department

Sharadin Arts Building

15200 Kutztown Rd

Kutztown, PA 19530

Contact: Vicki Meloney

meloney@kutztown.edu

484-646-4143

2018 Marks the 13th Annual Designathon!! - The largest and longest running of its kind, Kutztown University's Communication Design Department is hosting its 13th annual Designathon over the March 23-24 weekend with an expected 100+ students, a dozen faculty and alumni, and 35 nonprofit organizations. "Designathon is something our faculty and students look forward to all year long," said Denise Bosler, KUCD department chairperson. "We are proud to be able to give back to our community in this way."

Designathon (Design + Marathon)-is an all night event that designs for over 50 local, regional and national nonprofit organizations. Throughout the evening students create logos, brochures, posters, advertisements, websites, murals and even a parade float for these organizations that can't otherwise afford the services of a professional design agency. Over the past 12 years, the event has drawn in over 900 students, the entire Communication Design faculty and 30 alumni totaling over 23,000 donated hours which has now surpassed $1,250,000 worth of design services. Although other organizations host similar events, Kutztown University's Designathon event is the only one to host this volume of student and nonprofit participants and sustain the event for 13 consecutive years, with it continuing to grow year after year. In fact, last year we added a "satellite" Designathon for KU alumni in Jersey City, NJ where they worked with regional and national non-profits. The Jersey City Designathon is run by KUCD Professor Holly Tienken, who said, "It's a wonderful opportunity for our alumni to re-connect with one another while working on meaningful and impactful projects."

"It's incredibly exciting and heartwarming to see the energy this event creates-for both our students and the nonprofits we assist." said Vicki Meloney, KUCD Professor and co-founder of the event, "We can't wait to spend a long sleepless night designing for good." Kutztown University is located in Kutztown, PA. The Communication Design department educates students in the study of graphic design, advertising design, interactive design and illustration.