I did a designathon as an experienced designer — here’s what I learned

Designathons are innovative events where design professionals from various backgrounds collaborate to address business challenges by creating realistic prototypes within a time-constrained environment similar to hackathons. These events emphasize collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving, allowing participants to hone both their hard and soft skills, such as prototyping, leadership, and resilience. Senior designers find value in designathons as they provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, leadership practice, and mentoring junior peers. Organized in large teams, designathons necessitate clear communication and conflict resolution strategies while fostering inclusivity and open-mindedness. Outcomes of designathons often include refined skills, new business opportunities, and occasionally, real-world development of promising ideas. Overall, designathons celebrate design culture, offering seasoned designers a platform to evolve their expertise and contribute positively to the community.