Design It Workshop Recap ✧
Here’s what you missed (and what’s next!)
(1) Design It Recap
(2) Upcoming DI Events
(3) Opportunities — Apply Soon!
(4) Design Beyond DI
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Design It Workshop! We had a great time exploring how to turn early ideas into real projects and diving into the process of designing your own portfolio website. Stay tuned for the next part of our Design to Development Series next week!
Upcoming DI Events
✦ Study Night Tonight!
Introducing Study Nights — your midweek motivation to get things done. Expect snacks, chill music, and a focused study space surrounded by peers who’ve taken CDIS and DS courses. It’s the perfect spot to catch up on homework or tackle that project you’ve been putting off.
Wednesday, Oct. 8 · 6-8 PM | Student Org Lounge, Morgridge Hall
What to bring: Your study materials and a productive mindset
✦ Prototype It — Design to Development Series
Continue the Design to Development journey with Prototype It, where we’ll move from design concepts to tangible interactions. Learn how to translate your portfolio ideas into functional prototypes and start bringing your designs to life!
Tuesday, Oct. 14 · 6-7 PM | Room 2538, Morgridge Hall
Note: If you missed our Design It workshop, no worries! We will provide you with the materials you need.
✦ Damon Sanchez — Human-Centered Design Process and the Artifacts Associated with the Phases
Join us for an in-depth look at how user experience and design thinking come together in real-world practice. Damon Sanchez, UX Product Manager at Baird, will walk us through the stages of the human-centered design process — from research to prototyping — and highlight the key artifacts that bring each phase to life.
Tuesday, Oct. 21 · 6-7 PM | Room 2538, Morgridge Hall
Opportunities — Apply Soon!
✎ Morgridge Hall Wayfinding Project (Non-DI project)
We’re forming a small team to recommend navigation + signage improvements for Morgridge Hall and enhance the in-person user experience.
Focus areas
Improve clarity, placement, and visual impact of current signage
Recommend additions where signage is missing or insufficient
Propose copy/visuals that follow existing guidelines
Explore digital enhancements (maps, mobile-friendly guides, etc.)
Deadline: Fri, Oct 10, 12 PM (noon)
How to express interest: Email Gabrielle Czeremuga
Note: This is separate from Design Interactive and not a cohort project.
✎ LIS 399: Independent Study — Morgridge Hall UX Studio
Join Leah Ujda to help stand up the Morgridge Hall User Experience Studio. You’ll create clear “how-to” documentation and lead a pilot orientation showcasing the Studio’s capabilities.
Apply by: Mon, Oct 13, 12 PM (noon)
Email: Leah Ujda with:
Brief statement of interest
Your familiarity with research methods
Any experience creating training materials
1-2 learning goals for the project
Design Beyond DI ⬇︎
📢 RED Talk: Julie Norvaisas
Tuesday, October 14 | 4:30-6 PM WARF Seminar Room, 7th floor of Morgridge Hall
Join us for a RED Talk with Julie Norvaisas, a design & UX leader at Dscout. Julie will share insights from her work shaping strategy, building teams, and driving human-centered design that creates real impact. A great chance to learn from an inspiring voice in the UX community!
📢 Career Exploration with Information Science
Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 5:30-6:30 PM | Room 2532, Morgridge Hall
Curious about careers that blend tech, data, and design with communication or planning? Join this session to learn how an Information Science background can open doors to roles focused on people, systems, and strategy. You’ll also uncover ways to articulate your career interests — and how they connect with the Info Sci major. Learn more & register here
🌐 World Usability Day 2025 - CDIS Celebration
Thursday, November 13 | All day @ Morgridge Hall
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Usability Day with events, food, swag, and opportunities to connect with the Madison design & tech community. This year’s theme, Emerging Technologies and Human Experience, explores how innovations like AI and immersive interfaces can transform the way we live and work. Volunteer opportunities will also be available!
✐ᝰ. DesignLab – Digital Design Support
Working on a presentation, poster, video, or another creative project? DesignLab offers free one-on-one tutoring to help you improve your design, storytelling, and visuals. Their consultants can guide you at any stage, from brainstorming ideas to refining the final product. Both in-person and virtual appointments are available throughout the semester at multiple campus locations.
⚙︎ Software Training for Students (STS)
Looking to sharpen your tech skills? STS) offers free, hands-on workshops and 1-on-1 support on tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, R, Python, HTML/CSS/JS, and more. Learn from fellow students in a supportive, low-stress environment whether for class projects or personal growth!
✧ Come join us at Study Night tonight Oct 8th, and don’t miss Design to Development: Prototype It next Tuesday, Oct 14th ✧