Making the Largest AI Hackathon Feel Just as Big Online
User Interview
Real Voices, Real Frustrations
User interviews with 10 students (first-timers and veterans) revealed 3 must-haves:
1/
Immediate clarity
Users wanted to feel the theme and find answers fast
2/
Seamless sign-up
Friction at registration led to drop-off
3/
Trust-building design
First impressions had to deliver excitement + ease
User persona
Their needs shaped our homepage, navigation, and tone.
User Immersion
Empathy in Action: I Became the User
To understand the hackathon experience from the inside, I joined WeHack 2023—my first one. Immersing myself in the event let me spot friction points and emotional highs that I brought back to HackAI. Our team’s design even won 1st place.
competitive analysis
What Great Hackathons Get Right (and Wrong)
We reviewed 9 top hackathon sites, rating them on four UX factors: design, navigation, event clarity, and accessibility. I built a visual heatmap to summarize what worked—and what didn’t.
Ideation & Wireframing
Close-up Storyboard: Emily, the first-time hackar, signing up HackAI
Sketching the Vision
Our process started with restructured wireframes focused on the registration flow, schedule access, and mobile-first layout.
Ideation & Wireframing
Sketching the Vision
Our process started with restructured wireframes focused on the registration flow, schedule access, and mobile-first layout.
Final design
The Winning Hand: Our Final Design
In the final design, we brought the Casino theme to life with a bold dark palette and nods to cards and chips—all while keeping accessibility at the core.
Key Design Highlights:
Immediate visual impact, strong CTA, and a structure that reflects the excitement of a live event
Clear, digestible sections (like Schedule, FAQ, and Eligibility) that reduce cognitive load and help users find answers without friction
Bold, streamlined call-to-action with a one-click sign-up flow to minimize drop-offs and boost participation
And the Hacker Guide
I created a live Notion page sent to all participants post-registration, featuring a real-time event timeline, submission steps, project resources, and key logistics—keeping hackers informed and focused throughout the event.
Results
From Launch to Impact
250+ participants. That’s more than triple from 2021
100% of test users found key info in under 10 seconds
4.8/5 navigation satisfaction
The redesign established a visual and functional foundation for future events
Reflection
This project strengthened my ability to:
Collaborate with devs and organizers under real deadlines
Translate high-level goals into focused, user-first design
Balance theme, accessibility, and action
Next Step?
Add dark/light mode, improve mobile views, and build a modular design system for future events.
