Each year, Design at UCI hosts the largest hybrid collegiate design hackathon in Southern California, gathering hundreds of students from across the nation to design, prototype, and pitch innovative products over the course of three days. 

This year, we’re excited to present Designathon 2025, where 200+ designers, technologists, and creatives will gather to explore the future of design in an age shaped by AI, immersive tech, and rapidly evolving interaction models.

Our theme, “Beyond Our Horizons,” invites participants to push the boundaries of how we engage with the world—rethinking interfaces, systems, and experiences in unfamiliar, emerging spaces. Come join us April 18–20, 2025 for workshops, karoke, late-night ideation, and conversations with industry leaders from Google, Meta, Riot Games, and more.

https://www.ucidesignathon.com/ 

• Impact
  Does the project tackle a meaningful problem with the potential to help many people or make a big difference in someone’s life?
• Creativity and Innovation
  Does the project go beyond convention? Innovation can come from rethinking what already exists or designing entirely new interaction models.
• User Research
  Did the team show a strong understanding of who they’re designing for? This includes talking to users, referencing research, and clearly identifying user pain points.
• Design Thinking Process
  How thoughtfully did the team work through the problem? We’re looking for a clear design thinking process — from defining the challenge to ideating, prototyping, and iterating.
• User Interface
  Is the interface intuitive, functional, and visually cohesive? Did the team make thoughtful design choices that enhance usability or create a compelling user experience?