WELCOME TO DESIGNVERSE '26 - UCR'S ONLY DESIGN-A-THON!
Calling all designers! Join other students in designers in a 24-hour competition to create a product that is focused on creativity, accessibility, and authenticity.
You will be able to improve your own design skills while also getting an opportunity to network with UI/UX industry professionals, students, and alumni.
This is a completely beginner-friendly designathon. No experience with coding or UI/UX is required. We will have workshops, food, and games!
Requirements
WHAT TO SUBMIT
As a team, you will be submitting your project on Devpost. Describe your project's main goals, the problem you aimed to solve, and most importantly, how you designed your ideas. Be sure to include descriptions of any tracks you focused on in your designs! The tracks can be found on our website: https://www.designverseucr.org. Lastly, include a link to your Google/PPT Slides!
Prizes
Slice of Insight
Mini sticker printer + MLH Winner Pins
Cookie Cutter Challenge
Smiskis Blind Boxes + MLH Winner Pins
Framaccino
Framer merch, Framer Pro subscription, MLH Winner Pins
The Perfect Blend
Matcha set + MLH Winner Pins
Pudding Success On
UCR School of Business swag bag + MLH Winner Pins
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Swag Kits
It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
Wireless Earbuds
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!
[MLH] Best Use of Solana
Ledger Nano S Plus
The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.
Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!
[MLH] Best Use of Backboard
Tile Essentials Pack
Every AI model API is stateless by default. That means your app forgets everything the second a session ends. State management should be the first step of any AI build, regardless of what LLM you are using, and Backboard gives you that for free. But Backboard is not just state management. It is a single, unified API built on the world's #1 AI memory that gives you everything you need in one place: long-term memory, RAG, embeddings, tool calls, model routing across 17,000+ LLMs, and persistent context that stays alive across every page refresh, session, and user. No stitching together five different services. One API. One integration. Built on the best memory in AI.
Here’s just a small list of things Backboard can make possible for your AI app!
AI-powered Travel Guide: Remembers allergies and preferences from past trips.
Personalized Fitness Coach: Adjusts workouts based on progress and injury history.
Smart Home Controller: Learns routines over time to anticipate lighting and climate preferences!
Use Backboard to build a seamless, persistent user experience without the usual infrastructure headache! Each winning team member will receive a Tiles Essentials Pack because, just like AI, we all need an occasional reminder of where things are!
[MLH] Best Use of Vultr
Portable Screens
Vultr empowers hackers to bring their high-performance projects to life instantly; providing everything from the speed of one-click deployment and scalable cloud compute, to specialized Vultr Cloud GPUs that can power AI-driven applications. We want you to push the limits of what can be built when infrastructure is no longer the bottleneck!
Sign up for a Vultr account today and claim your free cloud credits! Take your next hack to the cloud with Vultr for a chance to win some awesome portable screens for you and your team!
[MLH] Best Use of MongoDB Atlas
M5Stack IoT Kit
MongoDB Atlas takes the leading modern database and makes it accessible in the cloud! Get started with a $50 credit for students or sign up for the Atlas free forever tier (no credit card required). Along with a suite of services and functionalities, you'll have everything you need to manage all of your data, and you can get a headstart with free resources from MongoDB University! Build a hack using MongoDB Atlas for a chance to win a M5Stack IoT Kit for you and each member of your group.
[MLH] Best .Tech Domain Name
Desktop Microphone & a Free .Tech Domain Name for up to 10 years!
Make your Team's Achievements timeless: Win a .Tech Domain Name for up to 10 years to Showcase and Expand Your Project, Plus Desktop Mics for Effortless Collaboration on Zoom, empowering you to build even more cool things together!
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Karthik Bodducherla
Director, Applications Development @ IQVIA
Vijaya sai Munduru
Technical Lead @ Salesforce
Sua Lee
Graphic Designer @ TruAbutment
Priyanka Malla
Information Technology Project Manager @ Foundation Building Materials
Chi Esmabe
Senior UI/UX Designer @ Tinuiti
Judging Criteria
-
Slice of Insight
Uncover real user needs and translate insights from UX research into a clear, evidence-driven problem statement. -
Cookie Cutter Challenge
Bring concepts to life through rapid, testable, and iterative prototypes. -
Pudding Success On
Turn your concept into a pitch that feels polished, persuasive, and investment-ready. -
Framaccino
Create polished, high-fidelity interactive experiences using Framer. -
The Perfect Blend
Design visually refined, accessible, and consistent interfaces alongside cafe theme.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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