DesignUP
Hosted by Virginia Tech College of Architecture, Arts, and Design's Graphic Design program, DesignUP is a one-day philanthropic design-a-thon rooted in Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), where students collaborate with nonprofits across the New River Valley to create impactful, community-centered design solutions. During the event, student teams partner with real-world clients and are guided by professional mentors as they develop branding, print, digital, and strategic work in just a few hours. This year, the event remains at the heart of DesignUP, but it is now part of a larger credit-bearing class that allows organizations to work with students throughout the semester, creating deeper collaboration and more refined design outcomes.
Previous non-profit and local clients
DesignUP has partnered with over 30 nonprofits and local organizations across the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia to create impactful, community-driven design solutions. From youth programs and cultural heritage sites to environmental initiatives and healthcare services, each client brings a unique mission that students help bring to life through thoughtful design.
And so many more including:
- Blacksburg Partnership
- Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad
- Boy Scouts of America
- Charities of Southwest Virginia
- Community Housing Partners
- Cub Pack 145
- Historic Smithfield
- Huckleberry Trail
- Latinas Network
- Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley
- Local Colors of Southwest Virginia
- Mary Draper Ingles Cultural Heritage Park
- Michah's Backpack
- New River Composite Mountain Bike Team
- New River Robotics
- NRV CARES
- Puzzled Events & Puzzled Car Show
- Roanoke Valley Speech & Hearing
- Ronald McDonalad House
- Rush Homes
- Sustainable Horsemanship
- The Market at Virginia Tech
- The Wonder Universe
- TNR SWVA
- Virginia Tech String Project
- Virginia Tech Therapy Dogs
- Why Not Workshop
- Wytheville Farmers Market
- YMCA
Student-led branding that brings DesignUP to life
Each year, a dedicated team of students develops the visual identity and branding for DesignUP, crafting everything from logos and color palettes to promotional graphics and social media content. This collaborative effort helps set the tone for the event, unifying the experience across print and digital platforms while giving students real-world experience in brand development and communication design.
