Report on the Design-A-Thon

NIST’s report documents the first Design-A-Thon, held at the 2024 SOUPS conference, which explored creative approaches for digital product cybersecurity education and awareness. Participants worked in teams to design strategies for IoT products, using mock product data cards to address both technical and non-technical cybersecurity considerations. Approaches included storybook-style manuals for children, app-based tutorials with real-time support, and gamified education modules to engage users of varying technical skills. The findings emphasize the importance of human-centered design, accessibility, and tailored messaging to build trust and improve cybersecurity practices across diverse audiences.