Our Inspiration
As first-time hackathon participants, we were excited to take on the challenge of building multiple microhacks. These projects provided a great opportunity to learn and build upon existing ideas—such as enhancing the Hack505 website and developing the AI Reminder Buddy., as well as develop our own products such as the Cable Clip. The structure of the hackathon allowed us to focus on attending workshops, absorbing knowledge, and then applying what we learned in a hands-on, approachable way.
How We Built Our Projects
Hack505 Website Launch Page
The website was designed using Figma, drawing inspiration from the current Hack404 website. We customized the layout and visuals to include new features, such as an integrated AI Chatbot on the homepage, while maintaining clean and intuitive UI/UX principles.
AI Reminder Buddy
Built using Google Colab, this project expanded on a pre-existing Reminder Buddy introduced during a workshop. We implemented additional features and personas using our own programming knowledge, with guidance from the built-in Google Gemini assistant. The project showcases how AI agents can be tailored for personalized productivity tools.
Onshape Cable Clip
This was a completely original product designed using Onshape. The cable clip was engineered to keep cords aligned and untangled, helping manage cable-heavy setups such as server rooms and gaming stations. The design emphasized practicality and user efficiency in everyday tech environments.
Challenges We Faced
For many of us, this was our first-ever hackathon. We had to quickly adapt to the fast-paced 36-hour environment, manage tight deadlines, and get comfortable with unfamiliar tools.
Learning new platforms like Figma, Onshape, and Google Colab from scratch pushed us out of our comfort zones. Teamwork played a critical role—we divided responsibilities, shared what we learned in real-time, and leaned on the support of mentors and workshop facilitators to bring our ideas to life.
Accomplishments We’re Proud Of
We’re incredibly proud of building three functional microhack projects in just 36 hours, despite our limited experience. None of us had used Onshape or Figma before, and it was our first serious dive into AI agents and 3D modeling. From learning basic UI/UX principles to developing a physical product, the weekend was a whirlwind of firsts—and we’re thrilled with how far we came in such a short time.
What We Learned
Hack505 Website
We gained hands-on experience with UI/UX design and learned how graphic design principles like color theory, layout flow, and visual hierarchy intersect with software development. We discovered how essential it is to design with user intent in mind.
AI Reminder Buddy
We explored the distinction between AI agents (like Siri or Alexa) and chatbots (like ChatGPT). We also learned how AI agents can be programmed with custom personas to interact with users in meaningful and productive ways.
Cable Clip
This project introduced us to 3D modeling and its importance in industries like architecture, product design, and manufacturing. We learned how to build detailed product models and evaluate them for practicality, cost, and user efficiency using Onshape.
Future Plans
We hope to continue exploring different streams of computer science and engineering. Participating in Hack404 has given us the confidence and foundational skills to tackle more complex challenges in future hackathons. Our goal is to build more robust and impactful solutions that solve real-world problems—and to keep learning, one build at a time.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.