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.