HACK FOR ACCESSIBILITY

One billion people, or 15% of the world's population, experience some form of disability, such as vision, mobility, auditory or neurological. The 2021 Estée Lauder Companies Virtual Hackathon, Hack4A11y is focused on developing accessible and inclusive solutions to help tackle challenges that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. Accessibility is about making sure that everyone can partake in what the world has to offer. It’s about all of us.

Among the most important current trends in technology is the concept of user experience (UX), which focuses on improving technology’s effectiveness and ease of use. Today, technology accessibility is fundamental for ensuring a positive user experience. What will you develop to create a more inclusive and accessible experience for all?

WHY PARTICIPATE?

  • Expand your network of peers and industry professionals.
  • Use your technical and problem-solving skills, while having fun and winning prizes.
  • Join a global community looking to make technology accessible for everyone.
  • Help us create a more accessible future for your community and around the world.

Requirements

  • Final submission due Sunday, October 24, 2021 before 9pm EDT
  • Submit projects from the ELC 2021 Hackathon Devpost page 
  • A project description (up to 200 words)
  • 3-5 minute video (hosted on YouTube or Vimeo) 
  • Presentation file(s) used in the video
  • Link to GitHub/GitLab/other code repository, if applicable
  • Optional: Link to a working demo
  • Optional: Photos of each team member

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$132,000 in prizes

Grand Prize Winner ($11,800 value)

▪ $6,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ Dell UltraSharp 49 Curved Monitor† (each team member)
▪ Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital 'Grand Prize' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

2nd Place ($7,400 value)

▪ $4,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ Apple iPad mini 256GB Wi-Fi† (each team member)
▪ Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital '2nd Place' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

3rd Place ($4,200 value)

▪ $2,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones† (each team member)
▪ Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital '3rd Place Prize' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

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Microsoft's Hack for Mental Health Award ($8,000 value)

▪ $5,000 USD of Azure credit (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ Microsoft Surface device (each team member)
▪ Access to Microsoft 'Friends and Family' company store
▪ Microsoft swag bags
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to Microsoft
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with Microsoft Accessibility Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital Microsoft 'Hack for Mental Health' Award winner certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications
▪ Prize winner to be selected by Microsoft judge(s)

The EPAM Innovation in Accessibility Award ($4,200 value)

How transformative is the idea that solves the problem?
▪ $1,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ Herman Miller Sayl chair (each team member)
▪ Logitech StreamCam (each team member
▪ Prize winner to be selected by EPAM judge(s)

Popular Choice ($2,200 value)

▪ $1,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ $100 Amazon Gift Card (each team member)
▪ Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital 'Popular Choice Prize' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications
▪ Judging: Awarded through public voting

The Estée Lauder Companies Staff Pick ($2,200 value)

▪ $1,000 USD (divided evenly among all registered team members)
▪ $100 Amazon gift card (each team member)
▪ Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
▪ Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
▪ Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
▪ Recognition
▪ Digital 'The Estée Lauder Companies Staff Pick' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications
▪ Judging: Select ELC employees will evaluate the teams nominated for this award

Closing and Award Ceremony Audience Pick (2)

Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)

Microsoft Azure credits ($200/participant)

▪ $200 USD in Azure credit available to every ELC Hackathon 2021: Hack4A11y participant

† Prize Rules

ELC reserves the right to provide cash or cash equivalent of a prize in the event a product is not available in a country, area, or shipping restriction prevents delivery.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Christina Mallon

Christina Mallon
Global Head of Inclusive Design and Digital Accessibility / Wunderman Thompson

Samantha Starmer

Samantha Starmer
SVP, Digital Product, Online / The Estēe Lauder Companies

Tony Williams

Tony Williams
SVP, Global Human Resources, Transformation Enablement & Regions / The Estēe Lauder Companies

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Microsoft's Hack for Mental Health Award

Microsoft's Hack for Mental Health Award
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The EPAM Innovation in Accessibility Award

The EPAM Innovation in Accessibility Award
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Erica Zelmanowicz

Erica Zelmanowicz
Sr. Accessibility Training Program Manager / Microsoft

Elaina Shekhter

Elaina Shekhter
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer / EPAM Systems

Judging Criteria

  • 1) Potential Impact (20%)
    How big is the impact of your idea to bring accessible/inclusive solutions to help people with disabilities tackle the daily challenges the face? ▪ Considerations: Number of individuals whose lives are improved, scale and type of positive impact
  • 2) Implementation of the Idea (20%)
    How well was the idea executed? ▪ Considerations: Overall completeness, thoughtfulness, quality of the design and UI/UX
  • 3) Creativity and Originality (20%)
    How well did the solution address the challenge in a unique and compelling way? ▪ Considerations: Originality or innovate solution to the challenge
  • 4) Technology (20%)
    How technically impressive is the solution? ▪ Considerations: Technical quality of the execution of the idea, interesting, difficulty. Due to the large number of submissions, source code may or may not be compiled as part of the judging process.
  • 5) Presentation (20%)
    How well did the team clearly, effectively, and positively present the idea? ▪ Considerations: Storytelling, demos, screenshots, prototypes, and the thought process

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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