Not every milestone in your journey at Yenepoya University looks like a big dramatic moment. Sometimes it starts with filling out an application form, not entirely sure if you'll get the role, but knowing deep down that you have something to contribute.
From Applicant to Media & Graphics Head: How I Helped Bring OPENLOOP to Life
By: Anand Mahadev Category: Leadership | Design | College Life
Introduction
Not every milestone in your journey looks like a big dramatic moment. Sometimes it starts with filling out an application form, not entirely sure if you'll get the role, but knowing deep down that you have something to contribute. That's exactly how my story as Media & Graphics Head at Yenepoya University began — and it turned out to be one of the most defining chapters of my college life.
This is the story of how I got there, what I built, and what organizing a national level hackathon called OPENLOOP taught me about leadership, design, and showing up for something bigger than yourself.
Applying for the Role
I didn't stumble into the Media & Graphics Head position. I applied for it formally, went through the faculty selection process, and earned it. Looking back, that process itself taught me something valuable — if you want a seat at the table, you have to ask for it clearly and confidently.
When I applied, I knew I had a genuine passion for design and visual communication. I had been experimenting with graphic design on my own — creating things for fun, for friends, for small projects. But this was different. This was a university-level responsibility, and I knew that if I got the role, I wanted to do it properly.
The faculty saw something in me that I was still building confidence in myself. Getting selected was not just exciting — it was a signal that I needed to rise to the occasion.
What the Role Actually Meant
Being Media & Graphics Head is not a glamorous title. It is a responsibility. It means every poster that goes out represents your university. Every banner at an event, every social media creative that reaches thousands of eyes — that is your work, your standard, your reputation on the line.
From day one, I took that seriously. I started building a visual language that felt fresh, professional, and worthy of the institution. I learned what works and what doesn't when it comes to communicating to students, faculty, and the outside world through design. I made mistakes, iterated, and got better — fast.
But the real test was yet to come.
OPENLOOP: The National Level Hackathon
When the university decided to organize OPENLOOP, a national level hackathon that would bring in 300 to 600 participants from across the country, the stakes went up significantly. This was no longer just an internal campus event. This was something that needed to look and feel world-class — because participants and institutions from outside were watching.
As Media & Graphics Head, the visual identity of OPENLOOP was in my hands. Everything that would make a participant's first impression — the posters, the banners, the social media creatives — had to be compelling, cohesive, and consistent.
What I Designed and Why It Mattered
Posters
The promotional posters for OPENLOOP had to do a lot of heavy lifting. They needed to communicate the scale of the event, spark excitement, and carry all the essential information without looking cluttered. I went through multiple iterations, experimenting with color palettes, typography, and layout before arriving at a design language that felt bold and clean at the same time.
Banners
On-ground banners are a different challenge from digital creatives. They need to work at a large scale, be readable from a distance, and still look visually striking. Designing the event banners taught me to think beyond the screen — to think about how design lives in physical space.
Social Media Creatives
This was perhaps the most impactful part of the design work. Social media was our primary channel to reach participants nationwide. Every creative I put out had to stop someone mid-scroll, communicate value instantly, and push them to register or share. I designed creatives for announcements, countdowns, theme reveals, and post-event highlights — building momentum through the entire lifecycle of the event.
What Organizing at This Scale Taught Me
Design is Communication
Every design decision is a communication decision. The color you pick, the font you choose, the way you arrange elements on a page — all of it sends a message. I became much more intentional about design as a result of OPENLOOP.
Deadlines Are Non-Negotiable
At a national level event, everything runs on a tight schedule. Promotions have to go out at the right time to build the right momentum. Missing a deadline doesn't just affect you — it affects the entire organizing team. I learned to work fast without compromising quality.
Your Work Represents More Than You
When hundreds of participants from across the country see your creatives, you are not just representing yourself. You are representing your university, your team, and the event itself. That weight is actually a gift — it pushes you to do your best work.
Collaboration is Everything
Even as the person responsible for design, nothing happened in isolation. I worked closely with the event organizing team, took feedback, adjusted direction, and aligned constantly with what the event needed at each stage. Great design at scale is always a team sport.
Looking Back
Getting selected as Media & Graphics Head at Yenepoya University and then being part of organizing OPENLOOP is something I am genuinely proud of. Not because of the title — but because of what I had to grow into to earn it and then deliver on it.
It pushed me to take design seriously as a craft. It gave me real experience working under pressure and at scale. And it showed me that when you apply yourself fully to something, the results speak louder than any certificate or accolade ever could.
If you are a student wondering whether to put your hand up for a leadership role in your college — do it. Apply formally, show up with intention, and give it everything you have. You will grow in ways a classroom simply cannot teach you.
Thank You
To the faculty who selected me and trusted me with the responsibility — thank you. To the organizing team of OPENLOOP — it was an honor to build something real with you. And to every participant who registered, showed up, and brought their ideas to the table — you made all the design work worth it.
— Anand Mahadev Media & Graphics Head | Yenepoya University