Launchathon-x: Solving Global Issues Through the Power of Collaborative Design

Launchathon-x invites creatives from all industries to take part in a series of virtual hackathons to solve real-time social, economic, and health problems. Born from the necessity to maintain creative collaboration during the global COVID-19 pandemic, first-year student Danna Krouham was inspired to create the website when she was unable to continue working with her classmates in the Products of Design studio.

"Launchathon-x provides a platform for creative collaboration so we can be connected with others—even if we can't physically interact."

"It's March 10th, 2020, and my classmates and I have just been informed that SVA will be closing due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Danna recalls. “We were alerted that from that moment, until an undefined date, we would be taking our classes online, and possibly even be quarantined." Her initial response? "I'll go crazy, I can't be sitting in my apartment all day!" But there was one question in particular that inspired her to create Launchathon-x: "How can we continue being creative without stepping out the front door?”

The Launchathon-x website displays a series of ongoing three-day virtual hackathons around social, economic, and health issues. Users also have the opportunity to submit a request for a specific topic they want to collaboratively solve. The platform provides rules, instructions, and online working tools such as Discord, Zoom, Figma, and Miro for creatives to use together.

Each time a user participates in a hackathon, they will receive a “gratitude pin”—with a unique pattern design expressing their particular role in working on a global issue. Each member can share a picture of their pin on social media, encouraging more people to participate in the initiative.

"Launchathon-x provides a platform for creative collaboration so we can be connected with others—even if we can't physically interact," Danna shares. "Let's use this time as an opportunity to tackle these issues through the power of creativity, design, and alliance, and ultimately solve for these present difficulties and prevent future ones."

To learn more about Launchathon-x, visit the website here.