Noelia Manion '22 takes first place at Rutgers Creative X Design-a-Thon with digital scrapbook reimagining how we share memories

Noelia Manion ‘22 walked into her first-ever design-a-thon last month, hosted by Rutgers University Creative X, with a passion for design and the excitement to create. And she took first place!⁠
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When the theme was announced — nostalgia and joy — she knew it was perfect for her. “Anyone who knows me knows I love to reminisce,” Noelia shared on LinkedIn. She found her team on the spot, and over the next 24 hours, they went from a blank slate to a fully designed, interactive prototype they were genuinely proud of. The result was Patchwork: a collaborative digital scrapbook built around real-time collaboration, expressive visual design, and an experience that feels human rather than curated — “bringing back the joy of capturing moments with friends without the pressure of traditional social media.”⁠
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Noelia reflected on the experience for Stuart: “Participating in the design-a-thon meant really putting myself out there. I had to believe in my own skills as a designer and, most importantly, just have fun. Throughout the experience, my team and I really felt passionate about the product we were making and had fun while designing it, and I think those two things combined are what helped us win. Since Stuart, I have made sure to keep doing the things that I’ve always loved. I do club gymnastics, club tennis, and even club figure skating at Rutgers in my spare time. Being a Stuart student taught me that if there’s something I am passionate about and want to do, I should just go out and do it. For any soon-to-be college students, though it might sound cliché, don’t be afraid to try new things!”

Click here or the YouTube demo of Patchwork.