FullyHacks 2024-25
FullyHacks was the first design project that I ever touched and it changed everything. Over two years, I helped shaped the identity and website of the largest hackathon at Cal State Fullerton. Through this experience, I learned what it truely means to design for real people, work under deadlines, and collaborate with a team to bring a shared vision to life.
FullyHacks 2024-25
FullyHacks was the first design project that I ever touched and it changed everything. Over two years, I helped shaped the identity and website of the biggest hackathon at CSUF. Through this experience, I learned what it truely means to design for real people, work under deadlines, and collaborate with a team to bring a shared vision to life.
Problem Statement
Student hackathons need to balance beginner friendly design with creative designs to build trust with sponsors and the university community. Every FullyHacks has to establish a strong identity quickly through a functional and accessible website as well as consistent branding across all digital platforms. For me personally, this project posed another problem. It wasd my first ever design project. Before this, my only exposure to design was from an intro to design workshop with ACM at Cal State Fullerton. I had to learn design tools, workflows, and collaboration, all while meeting deadlines.
Goals
Our primary goals were to build a clear, approachable visual identity that represented FullyHack's inclusive and welcoming culture. We also wanted to design a responsive and accessible website that students could easily navigate. As a design team, we also want to support outreach through consistent social media, sponsor, and print branding. A personal goal I had was to grow my own design skills alongside my team.
FullyHacks Design Team 2025
Research & Planning Process
When I first started in 2024, I jumped straight into designing without looking at many references. I wanted to figure it out on my own, but I quickly realized that good design isn't created in isolation. To improve, I began studying other hackathon websites like LA Hacks and HackMIT, paying attention to how they structured information, handled accessibility, and guided first-time participants. This shift in approach taught me that design isn't about reinventing everything. It's about adapting proven patterns and tailoring them to your audience. By 2025, I applied those lessons more intentionally, refining layouts, simplifying navigation, and shaping a stronger, more consistent visual identity that felt welcoming for students and credible to sponsors.
Key Takeaways
- Good design builds on top of proven patterns.
- Accesibility and clarity are essential for welcoming first-time participants.
- Consistent visual identity is key for credibility and trust.
My Role
Year 1: FullyHacks 2024
In FullyHacks 2024, I focused mainly on helping my team design website pages, social media posts, and promotional graphics. This gave me practice in applying consistent branding but I often worked reactively.
Year 2: FullyHacks 2025
By FullyHacks 2025, I stepped more into a proactive design role. I worked on creating the visual identity for FullyHacks 2025, helped establish a cohesive brand system early, designed stickers, and a new logo. This approach helped me build a stronger visual identity that represented FullyHacks and gave participants a more polished experience.
Challenges Faced
Remote Collaboration
Coordinating remotely with a large student team of varying skill levels was challenging. Online meetings often made it harder for people to speak up and collaborate. Over time, the team broke the ice and became more comfortable sharing ideas, and in the second year, a few in-person meetings helped build stronger connections. Having teammates from different backgrounds was also valuable. While I brought a computer science perspective, graphic design teammates introduced me to concepts like typography and visual hierarchy.
Deadlines
Balancing creative design ideas with the fast pace of event preparation required compromise and prioritization.
Designing for Developers
At times, designers proposed ambitious ideas without considering development complexity. We resolved this by creating two layouts: a simpler mobile version and a more detailed desktop version, striking a balance between creativity and feasibility.
Outcomes & Impact
We successfully created an educational and engaging experience with over 440 applicants.
Develoiped Skills
Learned how to bridge design and development through real developer handoff. Developed a deeper understanding of design pracices and branding.
Team Growth
Organizers gained invaluable skills in event logistics, marketing, and UX design. The bonds formed created a lasting sense of camaraderie and dedication within the team and led to the creation of FullyBeyond, the first designathon at CSUF.
Lessons Learned
Design is Collaborative
Weekly check-ins and in-person meetings showed me that accountability and trust are the foundation of effective teamwork.
Patterns Guide Innovation
Great design doesn't come from starting with a blank slate. It comes from studying proven patterns and tailoring them to meet user needs.
Iteration drives growth
Coming back in 2025 allowed me to see how my skills matured in just one year, and how applying structured design processes led to stronger results.
Gallery
FullyHacks 2024 Landing Page
FullyHacks 2025 Landing Page
Reflection
FullyHacks showed me that design is not just about making something look good. It is about creating experiencesthat guide, support, and inspire people. Seeing students interact with the website and materials I helped design was a defining moment for me, reinforcing my decision to pursue UX/UI design further. More importantly, this project taught me that strong outcomes come from strong teams: trust, communication, and shared accountability were just as critical as creativity. By combining proven patterns with collaborative energy, I was able to grow as both a designer and a teammate.