Are hackathons the answer to the tech designer shortage? | Figma Blog

Hackathons could help address the tech industry’s designer shortage by connecting design students with engineers, rapid product development, and recruiting companies. However, traditional hackathons often make designers feel unwelcome because they emphasize coding and seem aimed exclusively at developers. Hack@Brown shows that deliberate outreach and inclusive programming can turn hackathons into an effective pathway into product design careers.

Making Hackathons Welcoming to Designers

• Many design students believe they do not belong at hackathons because they cannot code or view tech companies as “selling out.”
• Hack@Brown changed its branding to appear more professional and appealing to designers.
• Organizers introduced dedicated UX and UI prizes.
• They contacted design clubs nationwide and paid travel costs for students to attend.
• The event’s design team grew from four members to six, helping ensure designers’ concerns shaped the experience.

The Missing Path into Tech Design

• Engineers have established routes into technology through coding education, projects, and recruiting pipelines; designers often lack an equivalent path.
• Even invited designers sometimes left after seeing recruiting booths focused on engineers, reinforcing the sense that they did not fit in.
• Companies need to take responsibility for finding potential designers rather than waiting for them to enter traditional tech channels.
• Personal mentorship can be decisive: Atty Eleti discovered his potential as a designer after encouragement from Figma engineer Jessica Liu and designer Alice Lee.

Hackathons as a Recruiting Funnel

• Hack@Brown grew from 15–20 designers in 2013 to more than 100 in 2017—about 20% of attendees.
• Companies including Facebook, Kayak, LinkedIn, Dropbox, IBM, and GE were increasing designer recruitment.
• Facebook representatives attended to identify students with potential and followed up with attendees, including campus visits.
• Recruiters seek designers with a combination of skills that remains difficult to find because product design is still a relatively young field.
• Hackathons give companies an opportunity to meet promising candidates early and show students that tech design offers substantial career opportunities.

Companies and hackathon organizers should actively invite, support, and mentor designers. With inclusive branding, design-specific challenges, financial assistance, and visible designer participation, hackathons can become a meaningful bridge into tech careers rather than developer-only events.