CSU
DESIGN WEEK
SERVICESROLEEvent Design
Event Coordination
Experience Design
Environmental Graphics
Marketing Campaign
Founder, Designer, Event Organizer
Branding, planning, and executing a series of design-centered community events at Colorado State University to increase interdisciplinary engagement and build creative community.
The opportunity
Design students at Colorado State University rarely had opportunities to connect outside of their own disciplines. While programs shared a common foundation in design, there was not a dedicated space for collaboration, learning, or creative exchange. My goal was to create an experience that brought together students, faculty, and local professionals through a shared conversation about design.
The solution
I designed and produced CSU Design Week, a three day series of workshops, talks, and networking events centered around interdisciplinary design. Every aspect of the experience—from the visual identity to the programming and physical spaces—was intentionally designed to encourage participation and meaningful interaction. The result was an event that celebrated design while strengthening the creative community on campus and throughout Fort Collins.
Design strategy
Rather than designing a single event, I built a flexible system that could support multiple experiences while maintaining a cohesive identity. Programming balanced hands on workshops, professional speakers, collaborative activities, and informal networking so attendees could learn, create, and connect in different ways. Every design decision was guided by three principles: engaging, interdisciplinary, and welcoming.
Logomark
Letters varying in weight and angle demonstrate the variety of interests and disciplines Design Week was built for. A bold typographic system and vibrant color palette created consistency while allowing each event within the week to develop its own personality. The identity became a recognizable thread tying together digital communications, printed materials, merchandise, and environmental graphics.
Physical brand assets
The identity extended into a collection of physical touch points that reinforced the experience before and during the event. Posters, stickers, screen printed notebooks, and interactive event materials created a cohesive presence across campus and the greater community. These materials helped establish Design Week as a recognizable event while encouraging interaction and conversation.
“The Passion Project workshop was the first graphic design artist talk I had ever attended, and I left feeling inspired and motivated to take action on a project I had been thinking about but didn’t know how to begin.
Seeing how he combined passion with design left a lasting impression on me.”
Koko Yagai
Junior in Graphic Design
Digital brand assets
Digital communication played a key role in building awareness and maintaining engagement leading up to the event. I managed social media content, developed email campaigns, and promoted the program through community channels like Slack and LinkedIn. The event website was custom built to create a landing page for those interested in the event to live for coming years. Together, these efforts expanded the event reach, prioritizing event information to ensure clarity.
Event experience
Over three days, Design Week brought together students, faculty, alumni, and creative community members through six unique events designed around collaboration and conversation. Workshops encouraged hands on learning, keynote speakers shared diverse career paths, and networking events created opportunities for lasting connections. Every event was intentionally designed to make design more approachable, interactive, and community driven.
“The attendees were dedicated to the task, though critically about what they were doing, and embraced stepping outside of their comfort zones.”
Shane Miles
Owner of Bright Matter, Facilitator of Agency in a Box Workshop
Wayfinding and Environmental design
Environmental design bridged the gap between the two buildings where events were being held into a unified event experience. Directional signage, room identification, and branded wayfinding helped attendees confidently navigate unfamiliar spaces while transforming traditional classroom spaces into inspirational and collaborative cohorts. These physical touchpoints connected the brand with the in person experience, making the event feel cohesive from arrival to departure.
Impact
CSU Design Week demonstrated how thoughtful experience design can build stronger creative communities. The event welcomed participants from multiple design disciplines and interests, facilitated meaningful conversations, and created new opportunities for collaboration across the Northern Colorado creative community. This event utilized research, design, and hard work to bring together creatives in a new and meaningful way, creating a framework to be instituted for years to come.
“The team behind Design Week made the event a complete success. From initial outreach, to day-of support, it was a great experience as a participant and for the attendees as well.”
Brennan Gilbert
Creative Director, Panelist at Design Week
To the creatives who made this event possible
Roberto Muntoreanu, Event Advisor
Camden Habgood, Event Coordination
Ty Doan, Website Design
Adele Goodwin, Sticker Production
Alex Suchey, Screenprint
Michael Highsmith, Facilities
Virginia Loeffler, Tiffany Schreiber, RDC Event Coordination
Xinran Yuan, Gallery Organization
Izzy Trinchero, Anna Coons, Marketing
Em Congdon, Event Photography
And the speakers, workshop leads, and panelists
Mark Schreiber, Design Thinking Professor, CSU
Kate Cashen, Product Developer, WERX Design
Brayan Montez, Illustrator, Yamz Design
Brennan Gilbert, Founder and Creative Director, Counterweight Studio
Jedd Rose, Co-Founder, Topo Designs
Shane Miles, Owner, Bright Matter
Mark Dineen, Associate Professor of Sculpture, CSU
Alina Osika, Founder, Alina Osika Design
John Robson, Photographer, John Robson Photography
Matt Gohl, Video Production Manager, Poudre School District
Lindsay Burnette, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, CSU
Marcelo Pilopolis, AVP of Marketing and Brand Management, CSU