Hackathons and innovation workshops generate a burst of creativity – countless ideas fly, but only a few grow into working projects. Most ideas fade away, not because they’re bad, but because they’re forgotten. A centralised repository (like Inspiradrome) helps, but there is also an effective low-tech solution: Hackathon Notebooks distributed to participants in gift packs.
This isn’t just another branded notebook. It’s a lightweight bridge between inspiration and implementation — designed to help participants capture, refine, and share their ideas before they vanish.
Each notebook could include:
- QR codes linking directly to idea submission platforms like Inspiradrome.
- Quick-reference pages with hackathon essentials – pitch templates, open-data sources, and contact links to programs like The Generator.
- Idea cards or tear-out sheets for sharing or submitting concepts on the spot.
- Prompts to encourage reflection: “What problem are you solving?” “Who could help you take it further?”
- Tear-out name card templates to help with networking.
- Etc. – this project is wide open to brainstorming!
Printed on sustainable materials and styled to reflect the vibrant, collaborative energy of hackathons, these notebooks would serve both as souvenirs and as functional tools – keeping ideas alive long after the final presentations.
By distributing Hackathon Notebooks at future events, we can help reduce idea waste, encourage continuous innovation, and make sure that even the smallest spark finds a place to grow.
Submitted by: Ilia Leikin (written by Ilia Leikin and ChatGPT)
Hashtags: #Hackathon #IdeaWaste #Innovation
Looking for: creative minds to design the notebook, innovation hub to print notebooks and adopt the practice
I can: brainstorm, help design notebook, organise design contest
Status: design contest live
