January 29th - January 31st, 2027
About
Students will create a prototype of an app or website (no coding required) that addresses a specific problem. During the design-a-thon, students will have the opportunity to attend beginner-friendly workshops and meet student designers from all across the country. All experience levels are welcome. Registration is open to undergraduate students living in the US.
Event rules
All members of your team must be an undergraduate college student with an associated institutional email. Bootcamp students are NOT allowed unless they show proof of undergraduate student enrollment.
Teams must not exceed four people total.
Each team may only submit one submission.
All work submitted to Rice Design-a-thon must be original work. Any submissions with plagiarized work will be disqualified.
You may not submit work previously designed before Rice Design-a-thon. All designs must be made between the dates of January 31st, 2027 to January 31st, 2027.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
If there are any adjustments made to your prototype after Sunday, January 31st 10:00 AM CST, your submission will not be considered for judging.
Schedule
All in Central Standard Time (CST). The passcode for all meetings is 877703.
Friday, January 29th
6:00-7:00 PM: Unlocking User Insights: Turn Curiosity into Better Design with Stella Tu
Zoom link
Saturday, January 30th
10:00 AM-11:00 AM: Intro to Framer with Royden So
Zoom link
12:00 PM-1:00 PM: Figma Levels: An Introductory Workshop with Kelly Truong
Zoom link
2:00-3:00 PM: How to Design at Industry Level (Visual + Interaction Design) with Naheel Jawaid
Zoom link
5:00-6:00 PM: Level Up Your Design Process: When to Use (and Skip) AI with Juliana Viado
Zoom link
Prizes
Additional prizes include Figma swag, free subscriptions to Axure RP Team Edition, and extended trials to Balsamiq!
Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse 👾
Popmart Gift Cards ✨
Judges
Allison He
Product Designer @ SeatGeek
Grace Susilo
Senior Product Designer @ EY Studio+
Jake Laviola
Experience Designer @ Expedia
Isaac Wen
Chi Quach
Product Designer @ Meta
Chuck Aligbe
Senior UX Designer @ VML
Frequently asked questions
Who can participate?
How many people can be on a team? Do I have to be part of a team to participate?
What if I don’t have a team before the event?
How long is Rice Design-a-thon?
Is the event virtual?
What design tool(s) should I use?
Can I still participate if I don't have a lot of design experience?
Sponsors and partners
