Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge

About

Pixelcraft 2026 is an online UI/UX design challenge by Hack4Hack. Redesign everyday Indian app experiences so that anyone can use them: first-time smartphone users, shopkeepers, parents and students. Design in Figma, or build your prototype in React or HTML.

How it works

• Round 1 · Register and design (free, till 27 Nov): register solo or as a team of up to 3, pick one of the Round 1 design briefs below and submit your key screens and a short case study.
• Round 2 teams announced (28 Nov): the best Round 1 designs are selected for Round 2. Selected teams confirm their spot with a ₹900 per team fee by 30 Nov.
• Round 2 · Design sprint (28 Nov – 2 Dec): new problem statements are revealed to Round 2 teams on 28 Nov, 12:00 pm IST. Submit a working prototype, a case study and a walkthrough video by 2 Dec, 11:59 pm IST.
• Top 20 announced (4 Dec).
• Live presentations (Sunday, 6 Dec): the top 20 present online to the judges: 5-minute walkthrough + 3-minute Q&A.
• Results (7 Dec).

Prizes

• ₹50,000 in cash prizes: 1st ₹25,000 · 2nd ₹15,000 · 3rd ₹10,000.
• Figma Professional plan for every member of the top 3 teams.
• Certificates for every team that submits, and a certificate of achievement for winners.

Round 1 design briefs

Pick one. Each brief is a concept redesign: do not use real company logos or names as if they were yours.

DS-01 · Train tickets for first-time users

Booking a train ticket on a phone is confusing for first-time and older users. Redesign the flow from search to payment to ticket, including waitlist and tatkal states.

Must show: search, seat or class choice, payment, the ticket screen and one error or waitlist state.

DS-02 · Government schemes in your language

Citizens give up on scheme applications because the forms are long and in English. Design a mobile flow that checks eligibility, collects documents and tracks the application, in Hindi or a regional language.

Must show: a language switch, an eligibility check, document upload and an application-status screen.

DS-03 · A digital khata for kirana stores

Shopkeepers still track credit (udhaar) in notebooks. Design an app that records sales and credit, sends reminders and accepts UPI payments, usable with one hand behind a busy counter.

Must show: adding a credit entry in under 10 seconds, a customer ledger and a payment-reminder flow.

DS-04 · Health records for elderly parents

Families juggle prescriptions, reports and appointments for their parents. Design an app where a child and a parent share medicines, reminders and reports, with large, clear controls for the parent.

Must show: a medicine-reminder flow, a report upload and a parent view designed for low vision.

DS-05 · One campus app for students

Attendance, fees, timetables and events are scattered across portals and WhatsApp groups. Design one campus app that brings them together.

Must show: a home dashboard, attendance, fee payment and an events screen.

DS-06 · Open brief

Redesign a flow from any app you use every day and show why your version is better. Label it clearly as a concept.

Round 2 problem statements

Round 2 has different, harder problem statements. They are revealed only to Round 2 teams on 28 Nov, 12:00 pm IST, so everyone starts at the same time.

What to submit

Round 1 (free)

• Key screens: 3 to 6 screens of your chosen brief, as a Figma link (anyone with the link can view) or a live React or HTML page.
• Case study: a short note (one page): the problem, who you designed for and your key decisions.

Round 2

• Prototype: a clickable Figma prototype, or a live React or HTML prototype with its GitHub repository.
• Case study: a 1-page PDF or Figma page: the problem, research, key decisions and before/after.
• Walkthrough video: up to 3 minutes.

Evaluation (100 points)

• Research and problem understanding (20): who is the user and what really goes wrong today?
• UX and information architecture (25): is the flow simple, clear and complete, including error states?
• Visual design and consistency (20): typography, colour, spacing and a consistent component system.
• Accessibility and inclusivity (15): contrast, text size, language and use by first-time or older users.
• Prototype and interactions (10): does the prototype actually work end to end?
• Presentation (10): clarity of the walkthrough and answers to the judges.

Who can participate

• College students, freshers and working professionals, from any branch: you don't need to be a designer
• Solo or teams of up to 3

Prizes

• 1st place — ₹25K: ₹25,000 + Figma Professional for every team member
• 2nd place — ₹15K: ₹15,000 + Figma Professional for every team member
• 3rd place — ₹10K: ₹10,000 + Figma Professional for every team member

Perks

• Free to register
• ₹50,000 in cash prizes
• Figma Professional for the top 3 teams
• Design in Figma, React or HTML
• Live finale on Sunday, 6 Dec
• Certificate for every team that submits

Timeline

1. Round 1 · Registration and design (free) (15 Nov 2026 – 27 Nov 2026): Register solo or as a team of up to 3. Pick one Round 1 design brief and submit 3 to 6 key screens (Figma link, or React / HTML live link) and a one-page case study.
2. Round 2 teams announced (28 Nov 2026 – 30 Nov 2026): The best Round 1 designs are selected for Round 2 on 28 Nov. Selected teams confirm their spot with a ₹900 per team fee between 28 and 30 Nov.
3. Round 2 · Design sprint (new problem statements) (28 Nov 2026 – 2 Dec 2026): New problem statements are revealed to Round 2 teams on 28 Nov, 12:00 pm IST (teams that confirm later can start as soon as they pay). Submit a working prototype (Figma, or React / HTML + GitHub repo), a 1-page case study and a walkthrough video (max 3 minutes) by 2 Dec, 11:59 pm IST.
4. Top 20 announced (4 Dec 2026 – 4 Dec 2026): The top 20 teams are notified by email and on this page, with their presentation slots.
5. Live presentations (Sunday) (6 Dec 2026 – 6 Dec 2026): The top 20 present online to the judges: 5-minute walkthrough + 3-minute Q&A.
6. Results (7 Dec 2026 – 7 Dec 2026): Winners announced: ₹50,000 in cash prizes and Figma Professional for the top 3 teams.

Rules

1. Registration and Round 1 are free. Register solo or as a team of up to 3.
2. In Round 1, each team picks one design brief and submits one design.
3. The best Round 1 designs are selected for Round 2. Selected teams pay a ₹900 per-team fee by 30 Nov to confirm their spot; unconfirmed spots may go to the next teams.
4. Round 2 has new problem statements, revealed on 28 Nov at 12:00 pm IST. All Round 2 work happens between 28 Nov and 2 Dec.
5. Starting from public UI kits, icon sets and templates is allowed if you credit them. AI tools are allowed; say in your case study where you used them.
6. Prototypes can be built in Figma, or in React or HTML. Figma links must be viewable by anyone with the link.
7. Redesigns are concepts: do not present real company logos, names or products as your own.
8. Copying another designer's work (for example from Dribbble or Behance) means disqualification. Fake or duplicate accounts also lead to disqualification.
9. The top 20 teams present live on Sunday, 6 Dec. Missing your slot without notice means you are judged on your submission only.
10. The organizers' decision on selection and results is final.

Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge: quick answers

What is Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge?

Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge is an online design challenge, organized by Hack4Hack. Redesign everyday Indian apps. Figma, React or HTML. Free to register. ₹50,000 + Figma Pro. Live finale on Sunday, 6 Dec.

When is Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge?

Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge runs from 15 Nov 2026 to 7 Dec 2026, online. Registration is open until 27 Nov 2026. Stages: Round 1 · Registration and design (free) (15 Nov 2026); Round 2 teams announced (28 Nov 2026); Round 2 · Design sprint (new problem statements) (28 Nov 2026); Top 20 announced (4 Dec 2026); Live presentations (Sunday) (6 Dec 2026); Results (7 Dec 2026).

What is the last date to register for Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge?

Registration for Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge closes on 27 Nov 2026 (11:59 pm IST). Register on Hack4Hack before then; teammates can join with your team code.

What is the prize money at Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge?

Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge has ₹50,000 in prizes. 1st place: ₹25,000, 2nd place: ₹15,000, 3rd place: ₹10,000. Figma Professional plan for the top 3 teams.

Is Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge free?

Yes, registering for Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge is free. Teams shortlisted for the next round confirm their place with a ₹900 fee per team.

Who can participate in Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge?

College students, freshers and working professionals can take part, solo or in teams of 1 to 3. It is fully online, so you can join from anywhere.

Can I join Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge from outside India?

Yes. Pixelcraft 2026: UI/UX Design Challenge runs fully online, so you can take part from any country unless its rules say otherwise. It starts 15 Nov, 1:11 am IST (14 Nov, 7:41 pm UTC).

Frequently asked questions

Is it free?

Yes, registration and Round 1 are free. Only teams selected for Round 2 pay ₹900 per team to confirm their spot.

Do I need to be a designer?

No. Anyone can take part. Judges look at how well you understand the user and solve their problem, not only at visual polish.

Can I build in code instead of Figma?

Yes. Submit a live React or HTML page (and in Round 2, its GitHub repository) instead of a Figma link.

Are the Round 2 problem statements the same as Round 1?

No. Round 2 has new, harder problem statements, revealed to Round 2 teams on 28 Nov at 12:00 pm IST.

When is the finale?

Sunday, 6 Dec, online. The top 20 teams get a presentation slot by email on 4 Dec.

Will we get certificates?

Yes. Every team that submits gets a certificate, and winners get a certificate of achievement.