Why 1 in 3 Students Goes Hungry – and How Design Is Changing That

Food insecurity isn’t a distant issue. It’s happening on our campuses and we can’t afford to look away.

Walk across any university campus or attend any sports game. It is quite easy to assume that everyone is managing.

Students move quickly between classes, and libraries stay full late into the night. Everything looks picture perfect – almost.

Across the United States, 1 in 3 college students struggle with food insecurity, and this issue takes root in many different forms: skipping meals, limited budgets for daily necessities, or quietly choosing between food and other essentials.

This reality continues to exist in institutions across the country as well as campuses such as UC Berkeley. It is such a widespread issue yet somehow an unseen one.

Yes, resources exist and are in fact quite accessible to the public; however, places such as Basic Needs Centers, food pantries, and emergency support systems seem to be hiding in plain sight. Oftentimes, students don’t know where to find them or don’t feel comfortable reaching out.

The gap isn’t just access. It’s awareness, visibility, and communication.

That is where design matters.

At Canva, design is simply more than just a visual appeal. It serves as a way to present information clearly and immediately. Done thoughtfully, design has the power to remove barriers of invisibility and miscommunication to give students the support they need.

A single well-designed page has the ability to show where to find a meal, when a pantry is open, and how to access emergency support and resources.

Within seconds. Without confusion.

Design has the power to shape not only what we see, but what we feel comfortable acting on.

When students see themselves in the messaging and design, information feels accessible. When resources are presented as a normal part of campus life, the distance between need and support begins to shrink.

Food security is not a privilege. It is a right. We believe that having access to food and resources must be prioritized and accessible to students.

The tools to make this shift happen are already in our hands.

Disclaimer: This campaign has been created for academic purposes only. I have no affiliation with Canva.