About the Challenge
The Human-Centered Technology Design Challenge 2026 is a global virtual competition organized through Excelerate that focuses on designing technology around the needs, experiences and challenges of real people.
The challenge encourages participants to identify a real-world problem, conduct user research and develop a technology-based solution that balances functionality, usability and ethical considerations.
Eligibility Criteria
The Human-Centered Technology Design Challenge 2026 is open to:
- All learners
- High school students
- College and university students
- Recent graduates
- Participants do not need prior UX or design experience
- Participants do not need experience with design software
- Individuals can participate independently or as part of a team
Team Size: 1–3 participants
The challenge is designed as an entry point for learners, so previous experience is not required.
Challenge Details
The Human-Centered Technology Design Challenge will be conducted virtually.
- Format: Competition – Virtual
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Time Commitment: 6–8 hours per week
- Team Size: 1–3 participants
- Rounds: 1
- Registration Fee: Free
- Application Deadline: 19 September 2026
- Challenge Start Date: 21 September 2026
- Challenge End Date: 17 October 2026
The challenge is designed to be completed through collaborative and asynchronous work, making it possible for participants from different locations and time zones to work together.
What Will Participants Do?
During the challenge, participants will work through a human-centered technology design process.
Participants will:
- Conduct user research
- Identify and define a real-world problem
- Create user personas
- Identify behavioral patterns
- Understand user pain points
- Design a user-centered technology solution
- Refine the solution based on research and feedback
- Evaluate usability
- Consider ethical implications and trade-offs
- Present their final solution
The focus is not simply on creating technology, but on understanding who will use it, what they need and how the technology can genuinely help them.
Challenge Evaluation
The challenge consists of one judging round.
Entries are assessed based on:
- Quality of user research
- How well the problem is understood
- Fit between the identified problem and proposed solution
- Usability of the proposed solution
- Consideration of ethical issues and trade-offs
- Overall quality of the human-centered design approach
Participants should therefore focus not only on how attractive or technically advanced their solution is, but on whether it actually addresses a meaningful user need.
Skills You Can Build
Participants can develop several future-ready skills through the challenge, including:
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Thinking
- Technology Literacy
- Productivity
- User Research
- Problem Solving
- Design Thinking
- Collaboration
- Ethical Decision-Making
The challenge is particularly relevant for students interested in technology, UX/UI design, product development, computer science, entrepreneurship, psychology, business and innovation.
Team Participation
Participants can enter:
- Individually
- In a team of 2
- In a team of 3
Teams may include participants working from different locations and time zones.
Excelerate states that teams are grouped into compatible time zones wherever possible, while much of the work is designed to be completed asynchronously using shared documents, recorded updates and scheduled checkpoints.
Important Dates
|
Particular |
Date |
|
Application Deadline |
19 September 2026 |
|
Challenge Starts |
21 September 2026 |
|
Challenge Ends |
17 October 2026 |
|
Duration |
4 weeks |
|
Time Commitment |
6–8 hours per week |
Students interested in participating should complete their application before the 19 September 2026 deadline.
How to Participate
- Visit the official Human-Centered Technology Design Challenge page.
- Review the eligibility and challenge details.
- Click on "Apply Now."
- Complete the application form.
- Choose whether you will participate individually or with a team.
- Submit your application before 19 September 2026.
- If selected, join the challenge beginning 21 September 2026.
- Work on the assigned challenge with your team and mentor.
- Conduct user research and identify key user needs.
- Develop and refine your technology solution.
- Evaluate the solution for usability and ethical considerations.
- Submit your final work for evaluation.
Challenge Details: https://4excelerate.org/opportunities/human-centered-technology-design
Important Resources
- Human-Centered Technology Design Challenge: https://4excelerate.org/opportunities/human-centered-technology-design
