micebook Awards 2024 Winners Book - Flipbook - Page 7
Best DE&I Initiative
Sponsored by
W INNER
D&F @ Meta
Game on Hackathon
As a women founded, women owned, and women run organisation, diversity, equality and
inclusion (DE&I) is at the heart of D&F Creative. When Meta asked the team to collaborate on
the creating the most inclusive hackathon ever in November 2023, they jumped at the chance.
Historically, Hacks are male orientated and usually attended by software developers and those
in tech positions. For this Hack, Meta wanted to attract the most diverse audience to date,
as diversity is proven to increase creative ideation. Given the broad range of talents at Meta,
it was vital that the Hack was also welcoming for all neurodivergences, physical di昀昀erences
and abilities.
Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, the ‘Game On’ Hackathon championed great women
leaders, featured a range of activities and attractions that would be suitable for both genders
and encouraged collaborative success over individual achievement.
The inclusion of cerebral games such as table-top board games, mindful colouring books,
model painting and terrarium making, as well as physical challenges such as faux axethrowing, t-shirt printing and puzzle solving, made the event more accessible to those without
strictly tech-based positions.
Massages were o昀昀ered throughout to reduce stress and tension amongst participants and
an Inspiration Station featured a broad range of sensory stimuli and sensory deprivation,
dependent on the needs of the individual.
The inclusive setting ensured that this was Meta’s most successful hackathon on record, with
120 participants. Judges said: “D&F Creative demonstrated real depth of thought into how to
be inclusive across gender, age and roles for the event to meet the objectives.”
Finalist
BeaconHouse Event
TechNExt 2023
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