ION<athon>
This event was designed as a scalable event identity system for an internal hackathon series intended to run multiple times a year. Rather than treating each iteration as a one-off moment, the goal was to establish a flexible visual framework that could evolve from IONathon 1.0 to future versions while maintaining consistency, recognition, and momentum. The system balanced bold creative expression with modular structure, enabling teams to execute confidently, adapt quickly, and build long-term equity around the initiative as it grew into a recurring platform.
Challenge
ION approached me to craft a visual identity for their internal-and-external talent hackathon series — one that would not just live alongside the parent brand, but feel distinct, memorable, and future-proof. The system needed to be anchored in ION’s visual language while flexible enough to evolve across multiple iterations (ION<athon> 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and beyond). That meant designing a brand that could grow with the event without losing cohesion.
Approach — Role
Built a modular visual system rooted in ION’s custom typeface and syntactic elements familiar to coding culture (e.g., < >, </>), reinforcing the hackathon’s tech context while maintaining brand continuity.
Created adaptable assets — from logo lock-ups to posters, stickers, category icons, and event merchandise — so each edition could look fresh but still feel unified.
Introduced a playful mascot — the rubber duck — referencing the coder’s debugging ritual to humanize tech culture and increase engagement.
Collaborated closely with event organizers and stakeholders, ensuring design decisions supported both user experience and strategic goals.
Visual execution
The “Rubber Duck”
To inject a layer of personality and approachability, I introduced a mascot: the rubber duck, a quirky but beloved tool coders use to “debug” their thoughts by talking problems through out loud. The duck became the friendly face of the event, appearing on promotional materials and even delivering instructions in a playful, engaging way.
Outcome
The ION<athon> visual system debuted at the India region hackathon and was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both participants and organizers. It not only elevated the event’s atmosphere and memorability but also laid the groundwork for a consistent, scalable identity across future editions. The design strengthened the hackathon’s presence, increased brand cohesion, and enhanced participant engagement — giving the event a unique visual voice within the broader ION ecosystem.