FAQs

What is the Design Thinking Hackathon?

Every year the UXGA partners with a non-profit sponsor to bring a set of design challenges to the Bentley Graduate School Community. Participants of the Hackathon will be placed in teams ahead of time.

The kickoff event will take place on October 1 in Smith Academic Technology Center (or via zoom). During this time we will walk through the event schedule and introduce Women in Big Data and the design challenges. Participants are then given a week to utilize design thinking and come up with solutions to one of the challenges.

On Sunday, October 10 all groups will present their solutions and attendees will vote on a crowd favorite. Video submissions will also be accepted. Women in Big Data will review the entries after the event and choose 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning teams.

Prizes

Women in Big Data will be reviewing the presentations and selecting the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize team winners. Each member of the winning team will be able to select the prize of their choice from the following:

1st Place: Portable Mini Printer, Bentley sweatshirt, or a personalized Bobblehead

2nd Place: Bentley branded sweatpants or Bentley hat

3rd Place: Bentley branded mug or Bentley t-shirt

How should I stay in touch with my team?

That's completely up to you! We recommend communicating via the Falcon Grad Slack group, as updates and important information will be posted throughout the week. However, you are welcome to communicate in any way you'd like.

How do I access the Slack group?

Click here to access the Falcon Grad Slack group. Once you're in, click on the #hackathon2021 channel or here to join!

What happens at the creativity workshop?

The creativity workshop, led by marketing professor Andy Aylesworth, will cover techniques allowing teams to unleash their creativity and come up with innovative solutions for the hackathon challenges.

Does the final presentation have to be a finished product?

Just let the creative juices flow! It could be a solid fleshed-out plan, a finished product, a website, a wireframe, a prototype – anything which convinces our esteemed judges you deserve to win!

Who can I reach out to for help?

Email ga_uxga@bentley.edu, we are happy to help or redirect you to the right person! :)

Can I use this experience as a portfolio piece, networking opportunity, etc?

The idea is that you connect with your teammates, who will likely come from diverse backgrounds and majors. You are also more than free to chat over Slack, we're all going to be there, not just hackathon participants, but more Bentley graduate students as well. We also encourage you to use this design challenge as a portfolio piece, if you'd like.