In late 2017, I received an email from TechGIG, India’s largest online tech community, about an upcoming UI Hackathon that included a new category under “Themes” designed specifically for designers. As someone who was planning to shift from graphic design to UX, I quickly registered myself for the event, despite never having designed a website before.
The Hackathon consisted of three levels: a quiz, a design project,& a final presentation.
Qualifiers: Design Quiz
The initial stage of the Hackathon involved a Multiple Choice Question round which focused on UI & UX concepts such as typography, color theory, and universal design guidelines, which I successfully passed with flying colors.
Stage 2: Design Skills
Participants who passed the first round were presented with a problem statement. I was content with the topic as it was related to my industry, and I felt fortunate. I commenced by developing user flows, followed by brainstorming where I drew various layouts on paper. Lastly, I transformed the one that I was most happy with into a high-fidelity wireframe as below
Home Page
Search Result Page
Product Page
Cart Review Page
The result was announced on the first weekend of January, and only 15 designs were selected for the final presentation. Fortunately, my design made it to the list, and without any delay, I booked a flight to Bangalore to attend the main event, which was scheduled for February 2018.
Finale: Design Presentation
The day of the final event was thrilling. The atmosphere was unlike anything I had experienced before. I presented my project right before lunch and although I was nervous, I managed to stay composed. Even though I didn’t win the competition, I was grateful for the opportunity to participate.
This event marked the beginning of my UX journey and I’m glad I took the chance. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been another UI Hackathon since 2017. However, I hope they will host one someday to inspire and motivate more designers like myself. 😄
Some photos from the event:
Meenakshi Bose 
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