Designathon

Design-A-thon is a premier UI/UX hackathon that challenges participants to transform real-world problems into innovative, user-centric design solutions. Organized by Strokes, the official design club of IIIT Nagpur, this event pushes participants to explore the boundaries of creativity, problem-solving, and design methodologies under pressure.

The competition is designed to simulate real-world design challenges through case studies, user research, and time-bound hackathon-style rounds. Beyond just visuals, the focus is on creating designs that are functional, inclusive, and impactful, delivering meaningful user experiences.

What We're Looking For

• Teams who can think creatively and craft visually stunning yet user-friendly interfaces.
• Designers who can deliver seamless, intuitive, and thoughtful user journeys.
• Participants ready to take on surprise challenges and constraints, adapting flexibly while maintaining design quality.
• Problem solvers who can balance creativity with functionality and inclusivity.

Key Details

• Design skills will be tested in realistic, case-driven environments.
• Participants will work on dynamic problem statements with unexpected twists.
• The goal is to inspire creativity while grounding designs in practical usability and accessibility.

Event Structure

Round 1 – Online Case Study Submission

Participants will undertake a research-driven design project, such as:

• Creating user personas
• Conducting heuristic evaluations of popular designs
• Critiquing design flaws in major platforms/projects

Each case study submission must include:

• Research findings with insights and data
• Clear identification of UX issues and pain points
• Practical recommendations for design improvements
• Mockups, wireframes, or prototypes showcasing solutions

Submission Format:

• One comprehensive PDF case study
• Supporting visuals (PNG/JPEG/PDF)
• Optional: Video explanation of design process
• Optional: Figma or source files as supplementary material

Timeline: 10th oct, 12:00 AM – 19 Oct, 11:59 PM

Round 2 – Offline Finals (16-Hour Hackathon)

A 16-hour on-campus design hackathon where teams receive the problem statement at the start. They must research, ideate, and deliver a complete design solution within the deadline.

Key Details:

• Deliverables include wireframes, prototypes, and final designs
• Teams may use any design tools or collaboration platforms
• Judging criteria: Functionality, creativity, user experience, aesthetics, adaptability
• Surprise twists may include target audience shifts, theme reversals, limited palettes, or mandatory design elements

Timeline: 25th Oct, 9:00 PM – 26th Oct, 3:00 PM

Evaluation Criteria

Round 1 – Case Study

• Research depth & clarity
• Identification of design flaws
• Feasibility of recommendations
• Quality of supporting prototypes
• Professional presentation

Round 2 – Offline Finals

• Creativity & innovation of design
• Usability & functionality
• Adherence to problem statement
• Visual & aesthetic quality
• Adaptability to restrictions
• Presentation clarity

Eligibility

• Open to all students across India (any discipline)
• Teams of 2–4 members, or individuals allowed
• Cross-college & cross-specialization teams welcome
• Each participant can only join one team

Submission Requirements (Final Round)

• A Figma design file link containing:
• Research insights
• Wireframes
• Prototypes
• Final design
• Dedicated presentation section
• File must be set to "anyone with the link can view"

General Rules & Guidelines

• All submissions must be original work (strict no-plagiarism policy)
• Participants must bring their own laptops/equipment for offline rounds
• Respect IIITN's campus rules and code of conduct
• Organizers' and judges' decisions are final.