DESIGNUP 2024

Brand Design & Collaterals

DesignUP—short for Design Ut Prosim ("That I May Serve")—is a unique initiative at Virginia Tech that connects graphic design students with professional mentors to create pro bono branding and design projects for local nonprofits. With a majority of the program's students participating, alongside experienced design professionals, the event fosters hands-on experiential learning while making a tangible impact on the community. Through real-world collaboration, students gain valuable experience in branding, event planning, and client engagement—skills that extend far beyond the classroom and into their future careers.

Learn more about the event here!

BRAND DESIGN

Since DesignUP is an annual event, some brand assets—like the logo—stay consistent, while others, like character icons (see Pixel Pete to your right), evolve each year.

For this year’s branding, I collaborated with a team to develop the event’s overall theme and create a suite of brand collaterals, from t-shirts and stickers to mugs, sweatshirts, wall graphics, signage, stamps, totes, and more. The goal? To make every touchpoint feel intentional and immersive—turning the event into a full experience.