1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world's population, experience some form of disability, whether it be vision, mobility, auditory, or neurological-related.

Those living with these different abilities face many challenges when shopping for and using beauty products, due to the general lack of accessibility in the beauty industry since its beginning. 

That’s why this year, The Estée Lauder Companies Accessible Beauty Hackathon, Hack4A11y, is focused on ideating and developing accessible and inclusive solutions for the challenges that people with disabilities face in their beauty experience every day. Accessibility is about creating solutions that empower everyone to partake in what the world has to offer.

One of the important current trends in technology is user experience (UX), which focuses on improving technology’s effectiveness and ease of use for consumers. Today, technology accessibility is fundamental for ensuring a positive user experience for all people. What will you develop to create a more inclusive and accessible beauty experience for all?

If you're not a developer, but you have an idea, there is a track for you! In addition to the traditional hackathon, Hack4A11y will offer an Ideathon, which allows teams to submit no-code, idea-based projects that demonstrate design thinking and innovation.

$61,500 in prizes

• TECHNICAL TRACK
  
• 1) Technical Track: Potential Impact (25%)
  How big is the impact of your idea to bring accessible/inclusive beauty solutions to help people with disabilities tackle the daily challenges they face? Considerations: Number of individuals whose lives are improved, scale and type of positive impact.
• 2) Technical Track: Implementation (25%)
  How well was the idea executed? How technically impressive is the solution? Considerations: Overall completeness, thoughtfulness, quality of the design, UI/UX, technical quality of the execution of concept.
• 3) Technical Track: Creativity & Originality (25%)
  How well did the solution address the challenge in a unique and compelling way? Considerations: Originality or innovative solution to the challenge.
• 4) Technical Track: Presentation (25%)
  How well did the team clearly, effectively, and positively present the idea? Considerations: Storytelling, demos, screenshots, prototypes, and the thought process.
• IDEA TRACK
  
• 1) Idea Track: Potential Impact (25%)
  How big is the impact of your idea to bring accessible/inclusive beauty solutions to help people with disabilities tackle the daily challenges they face? Considerations: Number of individuals whose lives are improved, scale and type of positive impact.
• 2) Idea Track: Implementation (25%)
  How feasible is an implementation of the idea? The pitch should reflect how the team's assumptions are based on research and data. Considerations: Depth of research and knowledge around the implementation plan, and the friction and cost to implement.
• 3) Idea Track: Creativity & Originality (25%)
  Has the team compared its idea with what is available in the market? How well did the solution address the challenge in a compelling way? Is it an approach or an improvement on existing ideas? Considerations: Originality in the marketplace.
• 4) Idea Track: Presentation (25%)
  Was the idea presented clearly and effectively? Was it inspiring and exciting? Considerations: Storytelling and pitch deck content.