317: What it's like to take part in a hackathon

317: What it's like to take part in a hackathon

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven September 1, 2025 Duration: 29:46

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femke

Femke and Charli discuss various aspects of hackathons, including team organization and timelines, the motivations behind creating dedicated create weeks, whether projects should go live afterward, the competitive dynamics of hackathons, and provide valuable advice for companies interested in hosting their own hackathons.

Timestamps:

0:47 Episode start

01:27 Framer Sponsorship

02:43 Have you been part of hackathons before?

07:38 How can non-technical team members add value during a hackathon?

10:11 Are hackathons competitive?

11:10 Do hackathon projects typically go live? What are the next steps afterward?

12:03 Do teams intentionally save work for hackathons? Is it part of your roadmap process?

15:17 Have you seen projects die after a hackathon?

18:12 What motivated you to start these hackathons?

22:18 What advice would you give to those wanting to organise a hackathon at their company?

Links: 

A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them out

Femke's new community

Femke’s course “Product strategy for designers”

Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

 


Hosted by designers Charli Prangley and Femke Van Schoonhoven, Design Life feels like eavesdropping on a candid conversation between two friends who genuinely understand the hustle. This podcast digs into the reality of a creative career, moving beyond portfolio tips to discuss the actual challenges of making a living from your ideas. Each episode stems from their own experiences as serial side-project addicts, covering everything from navigating client negotiations and pricing your work to pushing through creative blocks and finding time for personal work. You’ll hear them dissect the intersection of design, business, and technology with a relatable, grounded perspective. The discussion they foster is particularly valuable for young creatives seeking honest advice and a sense of community, all delivered through the lens of two practitioners in the field. Tune in for a blend of practical strategy and personal reflection that focuses on building a sustainable and fulfilling design practice.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Design Life
Podcast Episodes
294: Behind the scenes of a company rebrand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
Femke and Charli dive into the exciting world of rebranding Convert Kit. We explore the origins of the rebrand, discussing whether it began with a name change or a complete repositioning. Charli explains why they decided…
293: Why you need to understand the impact of your work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:38
Femke and Charli dive deep into the topic of the business impact of design decisions. We discuss whether impact is expected in the product design world and if it is an integral part of the design process. We also cover h…
292: Config 2024 Figma release reactions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
In today’s episode, we are gonna discuss and break down the recent announcements from Figma Config 2024 conference that took place on June 26-27 in San Francisco, California. We are going to talk about Figma's UI3 redesi…
291: When a side project totally fails [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Femke and Charli delve into the difficulties of managing a side project that isn't going well. Charli shares her personal experience of trying to organize a live workshop in New Zealand and not managing to attract enough…
290: Landing a new design job in 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:54
Femke and Charli share their insights on how to approach the application process in the 2024 design job market. The hosts share strategies on how to optimize your application, stand out from the crowd, and increase your…
289: How to know when it's time to move on from a job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:15
Charli reflects on her 7-year journey at her current workplace, emphasizing the importance of difficult conversations in clarifying issues such as salary and job satisfaction. Femke talks about the struggles she experien…
288: Making the most of team retreats and offsites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:08
Charli and Femke talk about their experience of having retreats with their teams, how retreats should be structured, what is their purpose and how to make the best out of in-person time with your teammates.As remote work…
287: Why your personal brand matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:52
Femke and Charli delve into the concept of personal branding. They discuss whether personal branding requires strategic planning and the level of intentionality one should have regarding their personal brand. Femke and C…
286: Should you take deadlines seriously? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
Charli and Femke give an elaborate reply to one of the listener's requests: whether deadlines should be taken seriously. The hosts share real stories of how they approached deadlines in different projects, how unrealisti…
285: The truth about burnout (and recovery) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
Charli shares her personal experience of how she got burned out from her side projects. She talks about the subtle signs and symptoms that indicate burnout and how to confront them. Charli decided to drop her side projec…