A Familiar Stage, A New Challenge
Last year, BrickHack 10 was the spark that ignited our love for hackathons. We walked away with the Best Sustainable Hack award for designing an app that encouraged eco-friendly transportation, and the experience was nothing short of incredible. The rush of collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving made it clear—we had to return.
So, when BrickHack 11 rolled around, joining again was a no-brainer. This time, there was an added incentive—the chance to enter the Traver Creative Technologist Founders Program, a stepping stone to building a product for the market. We expected intense competition, endless learning, and an opportunity to push our creative boundaries. The excitement was real, and we began preparing a week in advance, brainstorming ideas that could make a real impact.
Finding the Right Problem to Solve
Our team, a group of four UX designers, naturally gravitated toward an issue close to our hearts—designing AI tools that empower, rather than replace, human creativity. Through multiple brainstorming sessions, we pinpointed a common struggle: beginner content creators often felt overwhelmed by complex editing tools, while experienced creators wanted a simpler, faster workflow without sacrificing quality.
To validate our assumptions, we conducted user research—becoming design detectives in the process. We connected with creators and non-creators, mapping out their pain points like treasure hunters uncovering hidden gems. Every conversation revealed unexpected frustrations and a clear gap in existing content creation tools. The insights we gathered fueled our determination to build something that truly made a difference.
Turning Ideas into a Tangible Product
Armed with our research, we outlined core features and set a realistic timeline—crucial for staying on track. We kicked off the design phase with a fun yet productive exercise: Crazy 8’s. Each of us sketched eight variations of a screen in eight minutes, forcing us to think fast and explore diverse approaches. This exercise proved invaluable, allowing us to merge the best concepts into a refined design.
As evening rolled in, our competitive analysis turned into a detective game. We dissected existing applications, identifying gaps and opportunities. Whiteboards filled with insights transformed our workspace into a war room of design strategy. Midnight brought our most intense creative burst—low-fidelity prototypes emerged rapidly, and debates about every pixel and interaction kept us sharp. Caffeine became our fuel, design principles our compass.
With every refined screen and interaction in Figma, we could see our vision taking shape. The process was intense but never exhausting—it felt like a mission. Between focused sprints, we kept the energy high with inside jokes, meme-sharing, and even watching the India vs. Pakistan cricket match in the background. By dawn, scattered ideas had crystallized into a working prototype that reimagined how creators could interact with AI.
The Final Sprint – Pitching and Panic Moments
At 9 AM, we submitted a soft version of our project and took a much-needed break to recharge. But soon, it was time to prepare for the final submission and presentations. As we rehearsed our pitch, nerves kicked in. Expressing our vision clearly and concisely was a challenge, but after multiple rounds of practice, we found our rhythm.
Just minutes before the judging session, disaster struck—a broken flow in our prototype. Panic mode activated! Judges could arrive any moment, and we scrambled to fix it just in time. That small moment of chaos tested our ability to stay calm under pressure, and we pulled through.
We presented our project twice—once for the overall hackathon judges and again for the Traver Creative Technologist Founders Program. Each time, we highlighted the problem, research, design process, and final prototype, ensuring we conveyed the real impact of our solution.
Take a look at the tool yourself: ACAI.io - Final Prototype
The Moment of Truth
As the closing ceremony began, we were hopeful but realistic. With double the number of teams compared to last year, the competition was fierce. One by one, prizes were announced. Our name wasn’t called.
Then came the Best UI/UX Hack award. We braced for a "better luck next time" moment. But when the final award of the night—Best Hack—was announced, it was us. Shocked. Speechless. In awe. It took a moment to process what had just happened. While we were already proud of what we had built, this win validated the hard work, challenges, and countless hours we had poured into the project.
More Than Just a Competition
Winning was incredible, but the journey mattered most. Hackathons teach invaluable skills beyond competition. Time management kept us on track, while user-centered thinking shaped our design through real insights. We learned adaptability under pressure, tackling last-minute fixes and refining ideas on the go. Collaboration fueled innovation, and presenting to judges strengthened our confidence in communication.
More than anything, we proved that AI can be designed with genuine human empathy. Our prototype demonstrated that technology can be powerful, intuitive, and deeply respectful of human needs.
To anyone wondering whether to participate in a hackathon—do it. It’s an intensive learning experience where you gain real-world problem-solving skills, meet incredible people, and push your creative limits. The worst that can happen? You learn something new. The best? You might just change the world.
And, as Dory in us will always say, "Just keep hacking, just keep hacking, just keep hacking, hacking, hacking..."