Flock - Hackathon Project

While we didn't advance past the first round of judging, the project validated a critical need in Hong Kong society. Post-hackathon, several team members (including myself) have continued exploring this problem space for potential real-world applications.

What I Learned

1. The Power of Shared Purpose
Meeting strangers at a hackathon and building genuine connections while tackling a meaningful problem reinforced my belief that design can bring people together. Our team's dedication and continued collaboration months later proves the concept works in practice.

2. Research Validates Bold Ideas
Survey data showing overwhelming agreement (75-88% across key metrics) that this divide exists and needs addressing gave us confidence to propose an ambitious AI-driven solution.

3. Belonging is Universal
Conversations with stakeholders across Hong Kong's communities revealed that everyone—regardless of background—craves connection and wants to contribute to social good. The barrier isn't desire; it's access and structure.

4. Designing for Complexity Requires Systems Thinking
Balancing student, school, NGO, and expert needs while integrating AI safely and ethically taught me to think holistically about interconnected stakeholders and motivations.

What I Learned

1. The Power of Shared Purpose
Meeting strangers at a hackathon and building genuine connections while tackling a meaningful problem reinforced my belief that design can bring people together. Our team's dedication and continued collaboration months later proves the concept works in practice.

2. Research Validates Bold Ideas
Survey data showing overwhelming agreement (75-88% across key metrics) that this divide exists and needs addressing gave us confidence to propose an ambitious AI-driven solution.

3. Belonging is Universal
Conversations with stakeholders across Hong Kong's communities revealed that everyone—regardless of background—craves connection and wants to contribute to social good. The barrier isn't desire; it's access and structure.

4. Designing for Complexity Requires Systems Thinking
Balancing student, school, NGO, and expert needs while integrating AI safely and ethically taught me to think holistically about interconnected stakeholders and motivations.

What I Learned

1. The Power of Shared Purpose
Meeting strangers at a hackathon and building genuine connections while tackling a meaningful problem reinforced my belief that design can bring people together. Our team's dedication and continued collaboration months later proves the concept works in practice.

2. Research Validates Bold Ideas
Survey data showing overwhelming agreement (75-88% across key metrics) that this divide exists and needs addressing gave us confidence to propose an ambitious AI-driven solution.

3. Belonging is Universal
Conversations with stakeholders across Hong Kong's communities revealed that everyone—regardless of background—craves connection and wants to contribute to social good. The barrier isn't desire; it's access and structure.

4. Designing for Complexity Requires Systems Thinking
Balancing student, school, NGO, and expert needs while integrating AI safely and ethically taught me to think holistically about interconnected stakeholders and motivations.

What I'm Most Proud Of

The concept itself. Hong Kong genuinely lacks togetherness across communities, and we created a tangible, technology-enabled solution that addresses root causes rather than symptoms. By reframing community service from charity to collaboration, Flock challenges the othering that perpetuates division.

The team dynamics. Five strangers from different universities came together, worked intensively via Google Meets and WhatsApp, and built something meaningful in just five weeks. We still keep in touch today—living proof of Flock's core mission.

The dual meaning of the name. "Flock" evokes birds gathering in unity, while "角落" (gok3lok6) means "corner" in Cantonese—a cozy, welcoming space. This bilingual resonance captures both the movement we envisioned and the local Hong Kong identity we sought to honor.

What I'm Most Proud Of

The concept itself. Hong Kong genuinely lacks togetherness across communities, and we created a tangible, technology-enabled solution that addresses root causes rather than symptoms. By reframing community service from charity to collaboration, Flock challenges the othering that perpetuates division.

The team dynamics. Five strangers from different universities came together, worked intensively via Google Meets and WhatsApp, and built something meaningful in just five weeks. We still keep in touch today—living proof of Flock's core mission.

The dual meaning of the name. "Flock" evokes birds gathering in unity, while "角落" (gok3lok6) means "corner" in Cantonese—a cozy, welcoming space. This bilingual resonance captures both the movement we envisioned and the local Hong Kong identity we sought to honor.

What I'm Most Proud Of

The concept itself. Hong Kong genuinely lacks togetherness across communities, and we created a tangible, technology-enabled solution that addresses root causes rather than symptoms. By reframing community service from charity to collaboration, Flock challenges the othering that perpetuates division.

The team dynamics. Five strangers from different universities came together, worked intensively via Google Meets and WhatsApp, and built something meaningful in just five weeks. We still keep in touch today—living proof of Flock's core mission.

The dual meaning of the name. "Flock" evokes birds gathering in unity, while "角落" (gok3lok6) means "corner" in Cantonese—a cozy, welcoming space. This bilingual resonance captures both the movement we envisioned and the local Hong Kong identity we sought to honor.

This project sits at the intersection of everything I care about: inclusive design, educational technology, and meaningful social impact. It challenged me to think beyond individual user flows and consider systemic change—how design can reshape cultural narratives and create infrastructure for belonging.

The experience reinforced my belief that intentional, equitable, and inclusive experiences require deep understanding of context, stakeholders, and structural barriers. Moving forward, I'm exploring opportunities to bring elements of Flock to life in educational or community settings, continuing the mission we started during those five intensive weeks.

This project sits at the intersection of everything I care about: inclusive design, educational technology, and meaningful social impact. It challenged me to think beyond individual user flows and consider systemic change—how design can reshape cultural narratives and create infrastructure for belonging.

The experience reinforced my belief that intentional, equitable, and inclusive experiences require deep understanding of context, stakeholders, and structural barriers. Moving forward, I'm exploring opportunities to bring elements of Flock to life in educational or community settings, continuing the mission we started during those five intensive weeks.

This project sits at the intersection of everything I care about: inclusive design, educational technology, and meaningful social impact. It challenged me to think beyond individual user flows and consider systemic change—how design can reshape cultural narratives and create infrastructure for belonging.

The experience reinforced my belief that intentional, equitable, and inclusive experiences require deep understanding of context, stakeholders, and structural barriers. Moving forward, I'm exploring opportunities to bring elements of Flock to life in educational or community settings, continuing the mission we started during those five intensive weeks.