(1) Meeting Recap
(2) DI Reminders & Upcoming
(3) Additional Support
(4) Design Opportunities & Events
Meeting Recap
Design Scavenger Hunt 🕵️♀️🎨!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for The Design Scavenger Hunt! We split into teams to explore and analyze real-world design elements across campus. Everyone received a list of design prompts to find and capture, with different point values assigned to each. Submissions, including images and descriptions, were then shared through each team’s custom Slack channel. To wrap up, we showcased some of the best submissions, sparking discussion before announcing the winners (who received Starbucks gift cards 🤑). Thanks to everyone who participated and made it such a fun and engaging event!
Here are some key takeaways:
Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood, and used to the greatest extent possible by all people.
Design is everywhere! From signage to digital interfaces, the choices made in design impact how we navigate and interact with the world.
Small design details make a big difference. Elements like contrast, readability, and intuitive navigation can significantly impact usability.
We hope you enjoyed today’s scavenger hunt! ☺️
Reminders & Upcoming
Next Week’s Figma Crash Course 💡:
Figma is becoming one of the most creative & collaborative design tools on the internet. Join us for a hands-on Figma Crash Course, perfect for anyone looking to get started with this industry-standard design tool. Whether you're new to Figma or just need a refresher, this session will walk you through the essentials, from basic tools to wireframing and prototyping. You'll get the chance to practice key skills and learn useful tips to use Figma efficiently—No prior experience is needed! This crash course will take place in 4191F Helen C. White Hall at 6 PM on Monday, March 3rd!We hope to see you there! 😊
Trek Bicycle Site Visit! 🚲
Join us for an exclusive site visit to Trek Bicycle, a leading innovator in cycling technology and design, on Friday March 7th at 11am-4:30pm! This visit offers a unique opportunity to explore Trek’s headquarters, learn about their design process, and connect with their UI/UX team. The visit will include a guided tour, a project overview, a career panel, and a Q&A session! During the career panel, Trek’s designers will share their journeys into UI/UX, lessons learned, and insights into the industry. If the weather allows, we may also have the chance to ride bikes around the Trek campus! The tour is limited to 15 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis, so RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot.
Let’s Chat!
DI is committed to offering not only general, but also personalized support. If you would like to chat about navigating design UW-Madison, possible opportunities, or have questions in general — we would love to chat with you! Scheduling a 30-minute meeting is easy—just click the Calendly link to check a member’s availability:
Madi Meyer is the President of DI, and is a senior in the Information Science major. She has taken courses such as Interaction Design Studio (LIS 470), Human-Computer Interaction (CS 570), Design Thinking (DS 341), & more! Set up a time to chat through Madi’s Calendly!
McKenzie Kujava is a Cohort Manager for DI, and is a junior studying Computer Science. She is interested in Interaction Design and Project Management. Set up a time to chat through Mckenzie’s Calendly!
Quyen Tonnu is a graduate student in the M.S. in Design + Innovation program with industry experience as a marketing agency designer. She is interested in realms of product design, design strategy, human-centered design, and civic tech! Set up a time to chat through Quyen’s Calendly!
Alya Herusasongko is a graduate student in the M.S. in Design + Innovation program with 4 years of experience as a digital product designer. She’s passionate to talk about UX & Product Design, Design Strategy, and 0 to 1 Product Development. Set up a time to connect through Alya’s Calendly!
Additional Support
Career & Internship Specialist — Technology, Data & Analytics
While fellow DI members can be a great resource for insights on courses, projects, and networking, Beth Karabin, Career Specialist for Technology & Data, is an expert at helping you chart your own path to success. She can offer guidance on resume and portfolio reviews, interview preparation, and determining how to meet your goals. Beth is an incredible resource—utilize her expertise!
Upcoming Design Opportunities & Events!
Burton Rast Speaker Event!
This Wednesday, February 26th at 6pm at Marquee Theater in Union South, Theta Tau is welcoming Burton Rast, an accomplished design leader, artist, and investor. He will be speaking about his dynamic career experience! This is a great opportunity to gain insight into the world of design, creativity, and innovation from someone with firsthand experience in the industry. Don't miss this chance to learn from an industry expert, ask questions, and connect with others interested in transdisciplinary careers!
Axe Con 2025!
Axe-Con 2025, the world’s leading digital accessibility conference hosted by Deque Systems is happening this week! This three-day, multi-track event brings together developers, designers, business leaders, and accessibility advocates to explore the latest innovations, best practices, and real-world strategies for building inclusive digital experiences. With expert-led talks, networking opportunities, and insights from industry leaders, Axe-Con is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about accessibility. The conference is completely free and fully virtual. Don't miss this chance to deepen your accessibility knowledge and connect with a global community!
Tech Careers without Coding: Exploring Careers in Technology and Information Science
In an event hosted by the Information Science Major (although any student who likes technology from the human perspective is encouraged to join) explore career outcomes that require minimal technical skills! This event will take place on Tuesday, March 4th, from 5:30 - 6:30pm in Helen C. White 4207. “Technology Careers are in desperate need of students who understand Tech & Data, but specialize in design, communication, relationship management and many other “soft skill” areas.” This is a fantastic chance to define your career goals and take actionable steps toward achieving them!
Play Make Learn Conference
Proposals are currently being accepted to be presented at the 2025 Play Make Learn Conference (PML). PML is an inspirational space for educators, designers, developers, innovators, librarians, museum professionals, makers, and researchers of all kinds, to share and collaborate on work! The deadline for submissions is March 7th at 11:59pm, and the event will be held from August 21-22nd at Memorial Union.
Check-out our website!
If you missed joining our Slack, want to learn more about DI and our exec team, or to view or table of curated resources, then check out our Design Interactive website.
That’s all for now! 🗓️👋
We hope you enjoyed this week’s scavenger hunt, and we hope to see you next Monday, March 3rd from 6-7pm in 4191F for the start of our Figma Crash Course! 💡