Hack Highway*

A hackathon platform that centralizes event management with built-in tools for team communication, file sharing, and project evaluation — everything in one place for participants and organizers.
UI/UX Design
Web Application
B2B/B2C SaaS
3D Design
2023

The challenge and project goal

In response to shift to an online format caused by the pandemic, the goal was to create a digital platform for hosting hackathons.
The primary objectives were to:

01 Remove barriers to participation

Make hackathons accessible to participants from anywhere in the world.

02 Optimize collaboration

Provide teams with effective tools for teamwork to avoid relying on third-party tools.

03 Improve management

Develop a system for monitoring and evaluating projects.

Project process

The goal of the project was to research, develop a concept, and create an intuitive interface for a hackathon management platform.

01 Hypotheses & objectives

Competing solutions were analyzed, and interaction scenarios were defined for different user groups: organizers, participants, sponsors, judges, and mentors. Based on this analysis, user needs and Jobs to Be Done were identified.

02 Research

Provide teams with effective tools for teamwork to avoid relying on third-party tools.

03 Results

A Customer Journey Map was created based on the research, illustrating the full user interaction cycle with the platform.

04 Design

User feedback was collected through prototype testing based on the information architecture to identify and resolve potential issues. The visual style was defined with a mood board, followed by the final design of key pages.

Final design

A centralized hub where all hackathon participants can come together. The hackathon page is unified and includes all essential information.

The project’s visual identity includes a distinctive logo and an achievement badge system

The project’s visual identity features a logo, cohesive 3D elements, and a unified badge system that recognizes participants’ achievements — from participation to special awards. The logo reinforces the platform’s concept and strengthens brand recognition, while the badges encourage engagement and celebrate individual contributions.

Unified schedule

A comprehensive schedule with team meetings, organizational events, workshops, and other activities — all in one place.

Smart task planning

Task planning with deadlines and priorities, supporting list, table, and Kanban formats.

Seamless group calls

Group calls with automatic transcription to ensure nothing is missed.

Focused communication

Grouped communication for team discussions, mentoring sessions, organizational messages, and news from organizers.

Team management made easy

Team management with member search, the ability to join existing teams, or create a new one. Profiles with skills and interests help connect the right people.

Participant hub

A hub for participants with resources, project ideas, team rankings, and a submission form for work results.

Impact & outcomes

The project delivered a user-friendly interface concept for an online hackathon platform.
However, due to the shifting demand toward offline events and budget constraints, development was not launched. The created Service Blueprint was later applied to organize hackathons using the company’s internal tools.
* This case study is based on a real enterprise project completed under NDA. All branding, visuals, and certain user flows have been modified. Research insights and process descriptions reflect my actual work. No confidential data is shown.