TritonHacks

Starting in 2020, CSForEach at UC San Diego has hosted TritonHacks every spring, a beginner-friendly high school hackathon aimed at underserved communities. Held on the UC San Diego campus, this event provides a supportive competitive space for students to push their limits.

Every year, I have been the primary UI designer for the website, and in 2023, I directed the entire event.

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This year, we chose a national parks theme, so shades of green, mountains, and trees were essential.

We enjoy adding little Easter eggs throughout the site, and one example is the TritonHacks logo hidden in the staff held by the camper.

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In 2023, our theme centered around space. We used a continuous starry background and designed the site to feel like an actual journey through space, complete with astronauts, planets, space dogs, and even space-themed puns.

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In 2022, our theme was the ocean, and we brought the site to life with animated waves and swimming fish.

Embracing visual puns, we crafted the prize list to resemble various levels of sandcastles.

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Creating visual stories can be incredibly impactful when executed well. However, it's essential to understand your development team's capabilities and prioritize efficiency and scalability, sometimes sacrificing flair. If I could do it again, I would focus more on ensuring my sites can scale effectively.

Our return rate has increased by 10% each year, and we hope to continue inspiring students to pursue computer science paths for years to come.