If you had told me a week ago that I’d spend 24 hours straight in a room with 130 other students, fueled by caffeine and creative adrenaline, I might have been a bit nervous. This past semester, I participated in the MSU Designathon 2025—the university’s first-ever 24-hour design sprint. It was my first time ever doing a design competition, and looking back, it was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my time at MSU.
The Spark: A Personal Connection
I decided to tackle this project solo, focusing on a problem I live with every day. As a pescatarian for seven years, I’ve spent a lot of time wandering through dining halls only to find that my options are limited or the online menus aren’t accurate.
I know I’m not alone in this. After talking to other students and staff, I realized that whether it’s for religious reasons, allergies, or lifestyle choices, many of us feel like an afterthought in the dining halls. That’s where the idea for Eat At State+ was born.
The 24-Hour Grind
The atmosphere was intense. I had exactly one day to take a vague frustration and turn it into a high-fidelity proposal. Using Figma and Canva, I focused on four main pillars:
- Real-Time Accuracy: No more showing up for a meal that isn’t actually there.
- Nutritional Transparency: Clear labels for ingredients and allergens.
- The Feedback Loop: A way for us to actually tell dining services what we want to eat.
- Equity in Options: Ensuring halal, vegan, and vegetarian students have more than just a side salad for dinner.
Lessons from the Sprint
The biggest challenge wasn’t just the design; it was the research. I spent time conducting informal interviews to make sure my “user personas” were based on real Spartan experiences. I learned that while the current Eat At State site exists, it’s underutilized because it doesn’t provide the level of detail we actually need to make informed decisions.
Balancing the practical needs of dining hall operations with the diverse needs of the student body was a huge puzzle, but it’s one that I think is worth solving for a more inclusive campus.
The Result
When the clock ran out, I submitted my project for the “Social Design” and “Accessibility” tracks. I am so excited to share that I won Best Redesign!
Walking away with an award (and a cool new desk mat!) was amazing, but the real win was proving to myself that I could handle a high-pressure sprint. This event taught me that design isn’t just about making things look pretty—it’s about advocating for people and turning frustrations into solutions.
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