Design Nation 2026 Application

Join Design Nation 2026! Design Nation is presented by Business Today at Princeton University. Design Nation is an all-expenses-paid, 3-day conference for undergraduate students interested in design, UI/UX, product development, computer science, and more. This year, Design Nation is scheduled to take place virtually on April 11th and April 12th, and in-person in NYC on April 18th.

Design is never static, it’s a process that evolves with the world around it. Our conference theme "Morph" celebrates this sense of fluidity, showing that creativity thrives through change and transformation. As ideas shift and adapt, so do the people and communities shaping them. This year, we explore how design morphs from inspiration to impact, not as a product but as an ever-changing force that defines how we think, create, and connect. In the past, we've featured executives from Design Matters, Pentagram, Microsoft, Facebook, Adobe, Google, and more. During the conference, you will have a chance to network and speak one-on-one with these executives. You can check out our Instagram, @designnationconference, to see our past conferences and to meet the team!

We are looking for not just designers—entrepreneurs, artists, writers, and makers of all backgrounds with a love for design are also welcome. Among many other things, we are looking for individuals with enthusiasm, creativity, leadership, and a love for learning. All applications are considered on a need-blind basis, and all costs are covered for accepted attendees.

** PLEASE NOTE: We will only cover travel expenses to the In-Person Conference for undergraduate students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. But every student across the US is encouraged to apply and attend our Virtual Conference!**

Applications are due March 6th, 2026. If you would like more information, here's our website and Instagram @designnationconference. And, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ariel Yuan, Assistant Director of Student Relations, at [email protected].
* Required fields
First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Phone number*
Resume*

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or paste resume

Paste your resume here or attach resume file

College or University*
Are you an undergraduate student from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania?*
Grade Point Average (GPA) (4.0 point scale)*
LinkedIn Profile
What is your gender?*
What are your pronouns?*
What is your race and ethnicity?*
Which state are you from?*
Will you be enrolled as an undergraduate student by April 2027?*
Portfolio (recommended!)
If you submitted a portfolio, would you like your portfolio to be showcased for all attendees and potentially workshopped by our invited design executives? You will be kept anonymous unless you wish to identify yourself.*
I am a...*
What is your major/concentration?*
Are you a first generation college student?*
I am interested in...*
Have you previously attended Design Nation?*
How did you hear about Design Nation? (if someone referred you, please put their full name here).*
Why are you interested in attending Design Nation? What do you hope to take away, and how will you incorporate these insights into your own goals and aspirations? How will you contribute? (~200 words)*
Describe "design" in 5 words. Briefly explain why you chose those words. (~100 words total).*
What is something you have created that you are proud of? (~75 words)*
Tell us about your background -- how did you fall in love with design? Where do you currently look to find inspiration? (~150 words)*
Video (~1 min) to introduce yourself! (Recommended)
Anything else you would like us to know?
Human Check*