Students from KU’s Communication Design program won 17 awards at the American Advertising Awards Thursday, March 5. They took home seven Gold ADDYs, nine Silver ADDYs and one Best of Show.
Designathon Celebrates 18 Years of Creative Impact
Designathon 2026 Brings 25 Nonprofits and 111 Students Together for a Day of Impactful Design
Kutztown University’s Communication Design program hosted its 18th annual Designathon on Friday, Feb. 13, transforming the Sharadin Arts Building into a hub of creativity, collaboration, and community engagement.
This year, 111 students partnered with 25 nonprofit organizations for a 12-hour creative sprint dedicated to solving real-world design challenges. From logos and brand identities to websites, posters, social media campaigns, and motion graphics, students delivered thoughtful, strategic solutions tailored to each organization’s mission and audience.
The day began with team assignments and client meetings, where students quickly immersed themselves in understanding each organization’s needs. What followed was an intensive, fast-paced design experience that required leadership, communication, adaptability, and teamwork. By evening, teams presented polished concepts directly to their clients—many of whom expressed excitement and gratitude for the high-quality work produced in just one day.
Now in its 18th year, Designathon has become a defining experience within KU’s Communication Design program. Over the years, the event has donated well over one million dollars’ worth of professional design services to nonprofit partners across the region. More importantly, it has provided students with invaluable experiential learning—bridging classroom theory with real-world application.
Designathon continues to reflect the program’s commitment to community engagement and to preparing students not only as skilled designers, but as compassionate, civic-minded professionals.
Study Abroad in London!
Cheers! During the winter session, three students—Sydney R., Neece J., and Sophia G.—from KUCD were accepted into a study abroad program in London, England. The experience gave them the opportunity to explore the city while immersing themselves in its typography, food, and cultural landmarks.
Here is what they said about their trip:
Having the opportunity to visit London and see a new city through the eyes of a graphic designer is something I am going to keep with me throughout my career. I am grateful to have visited and learned from various museums and historical sites. I felt constantly inspired, even when learning about things completely unrelated to the arts.
—Sydney R.
This study abroad experience taught me the importance of every individual’s authentic story, the role faith plays in identity, the struggles of finding a sense of self from colonization and diaspora, how writing, artwork, and community can help find a sense of belonging, and that we should ALWAYS question how information is being presented to us. This trip has given me a newfound hope for the future I want for myself, and this will be something I will never ever forget.
—Neece J.
Studying abroad in London has taught me so much, and I’m so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity. I was able to see astounding pieces of art and architecture that I had never seen before. Thanks to this amazing trip, I will have a lifetime of unforgettable memories.
—Sophia G.
Interested in studying abroad in London? Find out more here: https://sites.google.com/view/kutztown-london-program/home
KU students at Illuxcon!
Prof. John Gurney brought KU students to Illuxcon at the GoggleWorks! 🎨🖼️ They dove into the world of imaginative realism—where classical painting meets the impossible, giving shape to mythic histories, future worlds, and everything in between.
Return of the CD Grads Fall 2025
The department recently hosted its annual David Bullock Return of the CD Grads event, welcoming back two mid-level designers whose careers exemplify the diverse paths students can take after graduating from Kutztown. This year’s speakers included 2013 graduate Kelsey Kovalik and 2018 graduate Becki Murray, who shared their stories of entering and navigating the design industry.
Kelsey, the first presenter, walked students through the various agencies she has worked for and her progression into her current role as a Creative Director at Base Beauty in NYC. She highlighted a number of projects from over the years, including HomeGoods’ “House of HomeGoods” campaign featuring beautifully redecorated vacation rooms styled entirely with items from HomeGoods. Other projects included quick-and-dirty advertising, such as “Get Caught in Swarovski,” and more recent work, like “Mizz Korea,” where Kelsey and her team created strong, beautiful art direction for an emerging skincare brand. Linked here is Kelsey’s portfolio page to see more of her work.
Becki offered a different perspective, landing at Smith Design in New Jersey shortly after graduation. With a bold, illustrative style, she has created packaging for renowned brands like Sesame Street toys (including a full brand guidebook for future designers) and SPAM with limited-edition flavors like Figgy Pudding or Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs & Ham. Linked here is Becki’s portfolio for more work.
Despite their contrasting paths, both alumni offered valuable advice, especially for those interested in advertising, branding, or packaging. Their processes demonstrated that skills such as photoshoots, revised sketches, and multiple rounds of changes carry over directly into industry projects.
A Q&A followed their talks, giving students the chance to ask thoughtful questions about career growth, creative development, navigating the job market, and how to stand out. Both speakers credited the department for helping them get to where they are today. Events like this remind us as students how valuable it can be to not only hear great advice about the industry, but to hear it from people who had the same projects and the same professors, making it all the more personal. Even if you can only attend part of an event, making the effort to show up and taking away a few pieces of advice can help in unexpected ways further down the line. I highly encourage everyone to not only check out Kelsey’s and Becki’s work, but to consider attending next year’s event if you have the chance.
As a final note, I want to thank Kelsey and Becki for speaking this year. Creating this year’s poster and blending both of your styles was a fun challenge! The advice you shared was not only helpful and honest, but I think it gave students a clearer understanding of the many paths students can take and how each can lead to its own form of success.
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