Spearheading a Strategic Rebuild of a Failing Design Community to Revive Vision and Engagement
Strategic Leadership | Execute Operations | Workflow Optimization
Project Role
UDesign Founder of iSchool Chapter at UofT, Outreach Specialist
Tool
Google Drive, Discord, Instagram, Figma
Timeline
Q2-3 2025
Team Size
Koyu (Myself)
Overview
UDesign, a design community on campus, struggles with sustainability. Once momentum fades, knowledge is lost, roles become unclear, and the sense of purpose dissolves. When Koyu joined UDesign until she graduated, the organization had no structure, no team, and no consistent presence.
Koyu set out to reimagine what a student-run design organization could be. Treating it like a product design project rather than a club, she focused on creating an operational foundation that could outlast any single team. From defining strategic roles to rebuilding outreach pipelines and creating a new experience for mentorship, Koyu helped shape a self-sustaining ecosystem that empowers internal and external students to connect, build, and thrive now and in the future.
The Problem
5+
of external client projects has not completed due to internal disorganization.
3 months
into the cycle, without clear accountability systems and leadership support.
130+
members in the Discord community witnessed UDesign’s extended period of inactivity and minimal communication.
Solution & Impact
Direction Setting for Sustainability
Refined UDesign’s strategic direction by consulting with student association presidents for feedback and long-term support. Set a clear vision for sustainability, defined role scopes, and outlined growth opportunities to build a more structured and resilient organization.
Roles Standard Operating Procedure
Koyu defined clear roles and responsibilities, outlined growth opportunities within the team, and established a transparent workflow for task ownership and reporting, including a step-by-step framework for executing events.
Revamping the Hiring Experience
Redesigned the full hiring process by creating two tailored interview rounds for each role, managing all communications and timelines. Increased application volume by 56% from the previous year and streamlined candidate flow from 33 applicants to 9 final interviews. Led the outreach campaign with hiring announcements and FAQ posts across social media.
Strategic Marketing & Community Campaigns
Strategically led online engagement through purpose-driven social media campaigns, including design discussions, event promotions, and hiring announcements. Boosted visibility, transparency, and successfully onboarded members to the newly launched Discord community.
Lessons Learn
Lessons in Leadership, Structure, and Sustainability
What started as a sense of responsibility to fix what was broken became one of the most transformative experiences in her understanding of design. Rebuilding UDesign from the ground up taught her that design is about people, systems, and long-term impact. Now, she thinks about how to design structures that help others do their best work, even after she's gone. She began to see leadership as a form of design. It made her realize that real impact comes from what you leave behind, not just what you build in the moment.