There's nothing quite like the excitement of bringing a new product to life, especially when it successfully hits the market. For me, the real joy lies in navigating the complexities of the development process and uncovering solutions that truly resonate with users.

This passion was put to the test during HackinMiami’s hackathon this past weekend. Arriving early on Saturday morning, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group of engineers, UX designers, and product leaders. After brainstorming several ideas and meeting talented tech specialists, my teammates and I formed a cohesive unit.

Our journey began with empathy, the first step in the design thinking process. We aimed to understand the needs and pain points of experienced gym-goers, our target users. Through user research and interviews, we identified a significant gap in the market for a personalized fitness tracking solution that provided real-time feedback and recommendations.

Next, we moved into the define phase, where we synthesized our findings into a clear problem statement: "Experienced gym-goers need a way to optimize their workouts with personalized, data-driven recommendations in real time." This problem statement guided our ideation process, where we brainstormed numerous solutions and ultimately decided on an AI-powered fitness tracking system.

In the prototype phase, we created low-fidelity wireframes and user flows to visualize the user journey and interactions with our product. Collaboration with engineers and branding experts was crucial during this stage, as it ensured that our design was both technically feasible and aligned with our brand identity. We then developed a mid-fidelity prototype of Tonguesten, our AI-powered fitness tracking system designed specifically for experienced gym-goers.

Tonguesten (a play on words for the toughest element in the periodic table) offers personalized workout recommendations, real-time feedback, and a comprehensive tracking system. By leveraging advanced AI algorithms, Tonguesten suggests specific exercises, sets, and reps based on individual performance and fatigue levels, ensuring users can effectively manage and optimize their fitness journey

Our emphasis on addressing users’ specific needs and developing a roadmap beyond our initial iteration positioned us for success in front of a panel of investors, founders, and tech leaders who served as our judges. We are incredibly grateful to Delta Air Lines, J.P. Morgan, Miami AI Hub, and THE HUB @ Office Logic for awarding us the second-place prize.

Participating in my first hackathon was a success. The experience demonstrated the power of design thinking and collaborative innovation. With like-minded individuals, we can achieve great things. I eagerly anticipate the next hackathon, ready to tackle new challenges and create impactful solutions!