Welcome to StartUp

SCAD's biggest design competition

StartUp ignites students' entrepreneurial passion, fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

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Legacy

This year, we celebrate 10 incredible years of our competitions history. With over a decade at SCAD, we continue a legacy of shaping the future.

/ WHY STARTUP /

Open to any major, making this competition diverse.

No matter your major, we encourage you to participate. At StartUp, we believe this is how true innovation is created—by refining creative ideas and working together.

No matter your major, we encourage you to participate. At StartUp, we believe this is how true innovation is created—by refining creative ideas and working together.

What are the incentives?

$5K

Five thousand dollar cash prize to the winning team of designers, along with goodies and takeaways.

40+

Over 40 different majors participating makes this competition a chance to engage in multiple fields of design.

20+

With over 20 different judges, all from various industries, to provide you with the best feedback possible.

4

Participate in our 4 workshops curated to help your team prepare to compete and win.

/ THEME /

Let the countdown begin.

Check back in on Kick Off day to see our big theme reveal. We’re excited to see how you approach the future of interaction.

/ STRUCTURE /

How is it structured?

Sign Up Here
1

Sign up, form a team, register

Sign up and pair with a team up to 5 people. Once paired, your team will register into a category to compete in. We encourage teams to incorporate different majors to collaborate.

2

Get paired with a mentor

Once registered, your team will be paired with a mentor. This mentor will guide you through the process, including reviewing portfolios and highlighting personal strengths.

3

Compete for semi-finals, then finals

After an idea is formed, your team will design and compete in the semi-finals specific to your category. The winning team advances to finals, where the top teams will compete for the grand prize.

Sign Up Here
/ PANEL /

Meet our finalist panel.

Whitney Taylor
YouTube Community
Head of UX
Ray Killebrew
Gulfstream
Group Head Cabin Experience Design
Angela Martin
Lenovo
Staff User Experience Designer, UXD Software Team
Jordan Ellis
Adobe
Adobe Express Evangelist
Michael Ishigaki
Meta
Product Design Director
Andrew Sibert
Meta
Staff Product Designer
Zach Stubenvoll
Reflective Works
Chief Design Officer

Meta
Former Head of Design
/ SCHEDULE /

Get ready for 2 weeks dedicated to design.

WARMUP WEEK
13
JAN
Adobe CreateNow
Terry White, Principal Director at Adobe
‍
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
In-person, Forty Event Space in ATL
Virtual in Savannah
14
JAN
Branding 101 with Adobe Express
Jordan Ellis, Adobe Express Evangelist
‍
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM EST
Virtual
15
JAN
Basics of User Research
Angela Martin, Staff UX Designer at Lenovo

7:00 PM  - 8:00 PM EST
In-person in Savannah
Virtual for SCADNow and ATL
16
JAN
Showcase Your Design
Jessica Ko, Co-Founder and CEO at Playbook
Henry Tran, Product Designer at Playbook

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
In-person in Savannah
Virtual for SCADNow and ATL
STARTUP WEEK
19
JAN
Kick-Off
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
SCAD Museum of Art Theater
22
JAN
Mentor Check-In
Virtual
23
JAN
Pitching Practice
All day with SCADamp and SCADpro
Virtual
24
JAN
StartUp Expo
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Deloitte Foundry, 3rd Floor
25
JAN
Semi Finals
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST
Virtual
26
JAN
Finals
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
SCAD Museum of Art Theater
26
JAN
After Party
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
SCAD Beach
/ DETAILS /
StartUp Resources

Need more info?
Click the link here.

Extra Information
/ TEAM /

Meet the team of students
behind it all.

Directors

Chi Quach

Logistics and Operations

Ellie Fowler

Campaign and Relations

Physical Experience

Lenora Fernandes

Coordinator

Dylan
Randall-Newberg

Coordinator

Mrinalini Vodela

Crew

Sean McAteer

Crew

Kenzie Alderson

Coordinator

Kate Basel

Crew

Arden Hanks

Coordinator

Harper Schutte

Crew

Anna Nguyen

Crew

Blake Mitchell

Coordinator

Claire Vo

Crew

Digital Experience

Belle Duffner

Creative Director

Steven Vasil

Web Design/Dev

Andrea Da Silva

Web Design/Dev

Davis Hardy

Motion Media

Gin Lee

Motion Media

Juan Diego Yurrita

Motion Media

Anthony Staples

Visuals

Tan Tan Nguyen

Brand Strategy

Ha Le

Visual Effects

/ PARTNERS /

Thank you to our partners, we couldn’t do it without you.

Join the challenge.

Test your skills with other talented students across majors and compete to win $5000. Every great innovation begins with a single idea.

Sign Up Here
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