Last-minute digital product design is always a stressful ask for many designers and programmers alike. Since there are time constraints in place, you must finish it as soon as you can. However, you can’t make a digital product with a snap of your fingers; it takes lots of time, precision, and iterations to reach launch status.
However, there are a few tricks that can help you design digital products faster—especially for your future hackathons.
#1 - Create a Proper Logo
Since you’re under time constraints, it’s best to create a simple logo. A simple combination of iconography and typography will make a great logo when you’re under time constraints.
If you’re still unsure where to start and don’t have the aid of a designer and their programs, many logo design platforms use AI tools to help you during the design process. The good thing about these services is that some are completely free, such as LogoJoy and Tailor Brands.
How do they work? First, the tool will prompt you to input your proposed company name. The tool will then do its thing and will provide you with several designs depending on your preferences.
#2 - Make Your Landing Pages Clear and Concise
Designing and launching a landing page is a very complex process. However, it will be effective if you have an action to get your pitch working. You can go about this in several ways, such as prompting the audience to sign up at your landing page, join a waiting list, or request access to the product that you’ve built.
Like logo creators, you can also use tools to help you design a landing page better. These include:
- SiteSee
- Lapa Ninja
- Landing Folio
Regarding landing pages, it’s best to get a service that provides free hosting or another service such as WordPress, then purchase your own domain. It may cost you money, but you’ll benefit more in the long run.
#3 - Put In the Real Work through Wireframing
Wireframing is the bulk of the overall design work. While it seems heavy, there are shortcuts that you can use because there’s a high chance that the elements of your app or product will be similar to another product that’s currently out on the market.
Wireframes consider user experience, which is why it’s crucial. A few avenues to create wireframes are:
- Balsamiq
- Moqups
- Figma
#4 - Work on Web and Mobile Apps
Once the wireframes have been built, you can now try an attempt at designing your final product. This isn’t essential by any means, and you should leave things as is especially if you’re new to design software.
Some of the most commonly used design tools for web and mobile apps are Sketch, Figma, Proto.io, and Adobe XD. The best thing about these programs is that they have built-in templates that you can use.
Don’t forget to design for mobile! Most people are looking at your product through their phone browsers, and a mobile first mentality will help your user experience in the end.
#5 - Prepare Final Presentation—This is It!
You’ve used your time wisely, and you were able to create the foundations of a digital product. You should be proud, but the work’s not quite finished yet—one thing left on your schedule is your presentation. Your presentation must be designed well and must be consistent so that the audience will not feel lost.
If you’re not a visual designer at heart, there are many free templates that you can use to make the whole presentation easier. The best tool you can use is Canva, with over 50,000 templates then categorized into company types, allowing you to narrow down your choices for design.
Summing Everything Up
Designing a digital product is hard, especially if you’re under hackathon time constraints. The good thing is that there are free services that can aid you, so make sure to use them to your advantage and manage your time wisely.
If the fast paced intensity of designing a product or solving problems with a time constraint sounds like a fun Saturday night, joining a hackathon is for you! We have an events calendar full of hundreds of hackathons to choose from, with the best prize pools and the most important social causes. Check out our events calendar and register, sign up for our newsletter for updates, and join our large community of mentors and hackers through Hackathon.com.
