Opportunity brief

DESIGN DECODE '26

Redesign. Rethink. Refine.

Design Decode '26 is a beginner-friendly UI/UX design competition conducted by the UI/UX Design Division of Cyber Labs, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

Participants are given the same deliberately mediocre digital interface and a common problem brief. Their task is to identify the UX problems and redesign the interface within 120 minutes using Figma.

The competition focuses on problem-solving, usability, visual design, accessibility, information hierarchy, user flow, creativity, and practical Figma skills. Since every participant starts with the same interface and brief, the competition provides a common baseline for fair and consistent evaluation.

Guidelines & Eligibility

Eligibility: Open to students interested in UI/UX design, visual design, product design, and Figma-based design.
Participation: Participants may compete individually or in teams of 2 members.
Team Size: 1–2 participants.
Team Composition: Team composition must be finalized before the challenge begins.
Design Tool: Figma is the designated design tool for the competition.
Competition Duration: The redesign phase will last 120 minutes.
Laptop Requirement: Participants must bring a charged laptop and ensure they can access their Figma account before the event.
Common Challenge: All participants receive the same interface and problem brief.
AI Assistance: AI tools may be used for ideation, general research, or reference, subject to the AI usage rules mentioned below.

Process & Round Details

Challenge Format

Participants will receive a deliberately mediocre digital interface along with a short brief explaining its intended users, purpose, and essential functionality.

The objective is not simply to make the interface visually attractive. Participants are expected to identify the underlying UX problems and develop appropriate design solutions while retaining the core purpose and essential functionality of the original interface.

Stages & Duration

Stage 1: Registration

Duration: Open until the registration deadline.
Details: Participants register individually or in teams of 1–2 through the designated registration platform.

Stage 2: Opening Ceremony & Briefing

Duration: Brief opening session.
Details: The organizing team explains the challenge format, timeline, rules, AI policy, submission process, and judging criteria.

Stage 3: Interface Reveal & Problem Brief

Duration: Brief reveal session.
Details: Participants receive the same mediocre interface and the associated problem brief describing its users, purpose, and essential functionality.

Stage 4: Redesign Phase

Duration: 120 Minutes
Details: Participants redesign the given interface using Figma, focusing on UX, usability, information hierarchy, navigation, layout, typography, colour, accessibility, consistency, and visual appeal.

Stage 5: Submission

Duration: Immediately after the redesign period.
Details: Participants submit their final redesigned screens, Figma link/file, exported PNG/PDF, and short UX write-up.

Stage 6: Judging & Evaluation

Duration: As per the event schedule.
Details: Judges evaluate all submissions using the predefined 100-mark evaluation rubric.

Stage 7: Result Announcement

Duration: As per the event schedule.
Details: Final scores are consolidated and the final standings are announced, followed by the closing of the event.

Competition Rules

All work must be created during the official 120-minute redesign period.
The core purpose and essential functionality of the original interface must be retained.
Participants must work using Figma.
Participants are responsible for bringing a charged laptop and ensuring access to their Figma account.
Direct copying of another participant's interface or submission is strictly prohibited.
External icons and legally usable design resources are allowed, provided that the final design is substantially created by the participant/team.
AI tools may be used for ideation, general research, or reference.
The final UI design, layout decisions, component construction, and submission must be the participant's own work.
Participants must not use AI or automation to generate a complete submission and present it as independently designed work.
All required deliverables must be submitted before the announced deadline.
Participants must not share complete solutions or copied design files with other participants during the competition.
Plagiarism, direct copying, deliberate sabotage, or manipulation of another participant's work may result in disqualification.
Late or incomplete submissions may be rejected where the omission prevents fair evaluation.
Judges' decisions on design evaluation are final.
Any procedural dispute should be raised with the organizing team immediately.

Submission Deliverables

To qualify for evaluation, participants must submit:

Final Redesigned UI – PNG/PDF and/or Figma frames.
Figma File/Link – A shareable Figma link with the required viewing/access permissions.
UX Write-up – A short text document identifying the key problems in the original interface and explaining the major solutions introduced.
Design Rationale (optional but highly preferred) – Explanation of important decisions relating to flow, hierarchy, accessibility, typography, colour, and usability.

Evaluation Parameters (100 Marks Total)

Criterion

Marks

Parameter Breakdown

UX & Usability

User flow and navigation – 10; Information hierarchy and clarity – 8; Accessibility and ease of use – 6; Interaction logic and consistency – 6

Visual Design

Layout and spacing – 8; Typography – 7; Colour and contrast – 7; Visual consistency, components, and polish – 8

Creativity & Innovation

Originality of solution – 10; Innovative improvements – 8; Effective use of design patterns/components – 7

Problem Understanding

Identification of core UX problems – 8; Quality of reasoning and alignment between problem and solution – 7

TOTAL

100

Final score out of 100

Important Judging Principle: Visual polish alone should not compensate for poor usability. Judges will evaluate the redesigned experience as a complete product interface, with particular attention to whether the proposed solutions actually address the identified problems.

What Makes Design Decode Different?

One common interface for all participants.
One fixed 120-minute redesign challenge.
Focus on both problem identification and design execution.
Beginner-friendly format with no requirement for advanced UI/UX experience.
Evaluation based on UX, Visual Design, Creativity, and Problem Understanding.
AI-assisted ideation and research permitted, while the final design must remain the participant's own work.

Final Challenge

Can you look at a bad interface, understand why it is bad, and redesign it into a better experience?

Decode the problem. Rethink the experience. Redesign it.

Design Decode '26: Redesign. Rethink. Refine.