fullybeyond
Role: Executive Director · Web Design Lead · Creative Strategist
Team Size: 12 Organizers
Tools: Figma
Timeline: Spring 2024 - Fall 2024
Overview
California State University, Fullerton didn't have an event where design students could collaborate, learn, and challenge themselves in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. Unlike hackathons for developers, there was no space focused on design-specific problem-solving and creativity.
Our mission was to create a space where students from every background could feel comfortable and have fun taking a step forward towards UX Design.
View Medium Article About Us
My Role
As the Executive Director and Lead for Web Design, I shaped both the creative and organizational direction by collaborating across marketing, outreach, and development. My contributions included ...
Branding
ourselves by providing consistent user experience and interfaces across digital platforms and event materials.
Overseeing
cross-functional teams (web development, design, marketing, outreach) to align efforts and vision.
Leading
the Design team from low-fidelity wireframes to responsive high-fidelity prototypes.
Collaborating
with Web Development to deliver build-ready assets and ensure seamless handoff.
Outreaching
to industry experts, securing volunteer mentors and managing onboarding logistics and orientation.
Networking
for insights on leading a team as a Director and for resources to help participants have an easy user experience.
Research Process
ATTENDING OTHER DESIGNATHONS
Team must participate in other designations hosted by other universities (UCLA, UCI, UC Berkeley, etc.) to learn best practices, identify participant pain points, and observe event structures.
CONNECTING WITH ORGANIZERS
Team must participate in other designations hosted by other universities (UCLA, UCI, UC Berkeley, etc.) to learn best practices, identify participant pain points, and observe event structures.
DRAWING INSPIRATION
Team must participate in other designations hosted by other universities (UCLA, UCI, UC Berkeley, etc.) to learn best practices, identify participant pain points, and observe event structures.
COLLABORATIVE PLANNING
Team must participate in other designations hosted by other universities (UCLA, UCI, UC Berkeley, etc.) to learn best practices, identify participant pain points, and observe event structures.
One of the things I prioritized most was consistency—not just visually, but in communication, tone, and clarity across the team experience.
Team Building
TEAM MORALE
Strengthened trust and camaraderie among organizers through 1-2 face-to-face meetings each month, shared meals, and encouraging everyone to participate on our marketing campaign as a group to encourage personal connection.
INDIVIDUAL GROWTH
Inspired opportunities for people to shine with their passions by creating a Google Form about everyone’s personal interests, goals, and values to align with what they want for FullyBeyond.
WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
Actively fostered a supportive environment by verbally affirming ideas, validating contributions, and encouraging quieter team members to participate.
1-ON-1 SUPPORT
Provided personalized support to team members who couldn't attend meetings, ensuring they felt included and were able to contribute effectively.
Challenges Behind the Scenes
Creating a Functioning Rubric
With limited knowledge of designing a functioning rubric, my team leads and I analyzed competitor competitions' rubrics to inspire us on the metrics on how each category should be measured before reaching out and collaborating with industry professionals who have history as a judge for previous designathons.
Sudden In-Event Venue Closure
Faced with an unexpected venue closure minutes before a scheduled mentoring session, we coordinated a relocation and ensured teams could still connect with mentors remotely. Despite the challenge, we adapted in real-time, gathering outside around a table for 2 hours to maintain support and keep the experience running smoothly.
Sponsorship Withdrawals
The week of the event, all sponsors collectively didn’t pull through. My team and I rallied together to share financial responsibility out-of-pocket.
Logistics Complexities
We initially underestimated the challenges of onboarding participants across platforms (Devpost and Discord). We addressed this by consolidating processes, simplifying instructions, and providing updates to participants.
Mental Health
As Executive Director, I was responsible for overseeing a complex event from the ground up. Managing both creative and operational workload taught me to prioritize mental health proactively: recognizing capacity limits, delegating effectively, and implementing systems that allowed the team to thrive without compromising wellbeing.
Outcomes & Impact
We successfully created an engaging and educational experience tailored for…
"Feedback indicated that participants had a positive experience and found the event valuable in developing new skills as our event included the following:"
Reflection
FullyBeyond wasn't just an event—it was a labor of love aimed at creating something our younger selves would have appreciated. From beginner-friendly workshops to ensuring participants found teams, every decision was meticulously made to empower others to grow and succeed.
This experience taught me the importance of trust, resilience, and adaptability. FullyBeyond wasn't just about building a platform; it was about creating opportunities for students to believe in themselves and their potential. The challenges we faced and overcame are a testament to the heart and dedication poured into this event.
