My Protothon 2025 Leap: Chaos, Calm, and the Magic of Imperfect Growth
Let’s get real: Joining a global UX hackathon with designers from 41 countries as a newbie felt like showing up to a marathon in flip-flops. But sometimes, you just need to leap before you’re “ready.” Here is a brief read on my experience participating in a UI/UX Design Hackathon!
Let me start with a confession: I almost didn’t hit “submit” on that Protothon 2025 application. A global UX hackathon with designers from 41 countries? As someone still tip-toeing into the world of UI/UX, the idea felt like jumping into the deep end without floaties. But then I remembered RachelHow’s words in one of her videos: “The magic happens when you’re terrified.” So I clicked.
Spoiler: It was messy. It was chaotic. And I’d do it all over again.
Why I Chose the “Food Track”
I chose the Food Track—a challenge to design a solution for urban food insecurity. As someone drawn to social impact, I craved the chance to turn pixels into purpose. What I didn’t expect? How quickly I’d learn that hackathons are less about perfection and more about momentum.
The Trap of Overthinking
I dove into food waste statistics, user personas, and pantry logistics like my life depended on it. Did you know 40% of urban food waste is perfectly edible? I built user flows with the precision of a Swiss watch.
Then reality hit: Hackathons move at lightning speed.
While others were already mocking up screens, I was still tweaking my third iteration of the app’s information architecture. My Figma file looked like a detective’s conspiracy board. By Day 2, I realized I’d become the person who brings a spreadsheet to a water balloon fight.
The Ghosts of Missed Opportunities
Here’s my biggest regret: not tapping into the mentors. I’d hover near their Zoom rooms like a nervous ghost, convinced my half-baked ideas weren’t worth their time. Turns out, a 5-minute “Is this terrible?” check-in could’ve saved me hours of over-engineering.
What Actually Worked
Somehow, between caffeine crashes and existential doodles, NeighbourFood emerged—an app connecting surplus food to neighbours through anonymous tokens.
Did I stick the landing? Nope. My demo was incomplete till the last minute, I was struggling to find words and my prototype was, well let's say not "Wow".
But here’s what stuck:
That spark when my dietary filter idea clicked
The messy joy of iterating (even when it felt like building IKEA furniture blindfolded)
Realizing I love problem-solving more than polish
The Real Win
Hackathons aren’t about shiny portfolios—they’re about grit. I walked away with:
Clarity: I thrive in the messy middle of research.
Humility: Done > perfect. Always.
Hunger: Now I want feedback, not fear it.
To anyone eyeing their first design challenge: Do it. Bring your half-baked ideas, your Figma fails, and that voice whispering “What if I embarrass myself?” (Spoiler: You will. And you’ll survive.)
Growth isn’t in the trophies—it’s in the chaos.
What’s your hackathon “glorious mess” story?