Florida State University students participated in a 24-hour Create-a-thon, hosted by FSU’s Innovation Hub, as part of the 2026 Festival of the Creative Arts, according to a March 11 announcement. The event challenged participants to design interactive experiences that foster belonging and connection within the Tallahassee community.
The Create-a-thon aimed to highlight how creative thinking can address real-world civic challenges and build stronger ties between university students and local residents. The initiative brought together students from diverse fields such as music, art education, computer science, and engineering.
Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub, said: “Events like this Create-a-thon provide our students with a space where creativity is the primary driver of discovery. When we bring together dancers, engineers, musicians, writers and scientists, we aren’t just making art, we are developing a universal language for problem solving that leverages the latest technologies.”
The event began with an interactive discussion featuring Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey and Brittney Pieper from the FSU Career Center. Dailey encouraged students to apply their education beyond campus boundaries. “Tallahassee is a university town. Anytime we can engage students to think big and help us solve the challenges that face society, it is a win-win situation,” said Mayor Dailey.
Throughout the event, eight interdisciplinary teams worked on projects designed to meet local needs. Students consulted with university and community experts for guidance. A panel discussion included creative professionals such as Rob Duarte from the Department of Art; Wen Guo from Art Education; Noel Wan from Music; Eric Adams from the Innovation Hub; and dance professor Tiffany Rhynard.
Rob Duarte said: “It’s great to show the students examples of creative projects that engage the community in authentic ways and then see how they brought their own experience and empathy to the design process.”
The competition concluded with teams presenting their prototypes before faculty and community judges. First place went to Tallahassee Twilight Trails for its interactive trail system using sidewalk murals and photoluminescent paint. Second place was awarded to Pop-Up Books TLH for its literacy initiative using oversized story stations in public spaces. Third place went to Tallahassee STOMP for an interactive musical exhibit inspired by Native American Stomp Dancing.
Sebastian Abril, a student participant from the College of Arts and Sciences, said: “The Create-a-thon was an intersectional way to combine minds from different fields and majors to solve a uniting issue that is pertinent within our community. It felt great to make new friends and figure out creative solutions to real-world situations that can positively impact the community that we all share.”
Baldauf concluded: “An event like this that focuses on human creativity has significant value not only for students in the arts and humanities but for all students as we recognize the value of our humanity in the age of AI and automation. It also provides a unique and valuable way to connect students with the broader Tallahassee community.”
