Stages of a designathon
| Stage | Brief description | Advice for implementation |
| 1 | Form a local steering committee (including individuals with expertise in public health, civil society, communications, design) | The steering committee members can also be invited to be judges during the event |
| 2 | Widely disseminate a call for participation in order to identify participants | Using multiple platforms and networks will increase heterogeneity |
| 3 | Prepare for the 72-hour event by clearly establishing the rules, judging criteria and expectations | A coordinator staff is needed to ensure all of the logistics are arranged and expectations are aligned |
| 4 | Host the 72-hour event, often at a local university | Local universities often have sufficient space on weekends |
| 5 | Share the designs of the finalists through implementation and evaluation | Real-world implementation can also serve as an incentive to participate |