Meshtastic Device Design Challenge

Once you are an official contender, you will be entering into a legally binding agreement with Hackster to deliver a solution based on your proposal. Contenders who receive free hardware and do not finish the challenge may be ineligible for future challenges and competitions unless the hardware is returned. If you receive free hardware and become unable to finish, please contact us at help@hackster.io and let us know as soon as possible. We may choose to arrange for the hardware to be shipped to another proposal.

To be eligible for judging, you must meet ALL of the following requirements unless otherwise stated:

General Requirements

• You must be registered as a participant for this contest.
• You must create a SeeedStudio account.
• Your entry must be your own original work.
• Your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other Hackster contest.
• Your team is no more than 2 members per entry.*

*By entering a submission to this contest on behalf of a team, you acknowledge that you are the designated representative authorized to act on behalf of your team. (See full rules below for details)

Case Design Requirements

• Your case or enclosure design must be based on Seeed Studio’s Wio Tracker L1 Series for Meshtastic.
• You can choose to design for one or more of the following products:

- Wio Tracker L1 Lite (no screen)

- Wio Tracker L1 (1.3" OLED screen)

- Wio Tracker L1 E-ink (2.13" E-ink screen)

• Your final submission does not need to include physical prototyping or verification, but we recommend it, as judging will take physical validation into consideration. See "Judging Criteria" for details.
• You are encouraged to enhance your case design with optional peripherals such as batteries, keyboards etc. — create your vision of the ideal Meshtastic node.

Project Documentation Requirements

• Your project must include a project name, short project description, cover image, bill of materials (BOM), full instructions, images, and relevant resource files (schematics, CAD etc.).
• Your project must be written in English.
• Your project must be submitted by Sep 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT.

Proposals will be evaluated according to the rubric below.

Project Narrative & Intent (20 points)

• Clearly explain your design thinking — how you approached the Wio Tracker L1 Series, and how your design seeks to maximize the functionality of a Meshtastic node. Ask yourself: “If I were a beginner reading this project, would I fully understand the intent?”

Complete Bill of Materials (30 points)

• Ensure all components, accessories, and materials used or suggested are documented in a clear, accurate BOM.

Functional Design & Usability (20 points)

Does your design thoughtfully address:

• Physical interfaces
• Assembly and integration
• Everyday usability and handling

Is it realistic and easy to use in the real world?

Creativity & User-Friendliness (30 points)

Originality isn’t mandatory, but creativity is key. A clever reinterpretation of an old idea can be just as impactful as something completely new.

Also consider:

• Aesthetic quality
• Thoughtful ergonomics
• User friendly

For Contenders, the judging criteria for bonus awards are as below:

• The final score will be weighted, with the community vote accounting for 60% and the judges’ evaluation accounting for 40%.
• About the Prize: The travel grant for Shenzhen Maker Faire 2025 (Nov 15–16) is only valid for in-person attendance. It will be reimbursed within 1–2 weeks after the event upon submission of the required documents. Failure to attend or submit required materials will result in forfeiture of the prize.

• $200 Seeed Studio Coupon + $200 Cash Payout ($400 value) (10 are available)

• Seeed Studio Coupon + Shenzhen Maker Faire 2025 Travel Support ($1,550 value) (2 are available)

Step 1: Register for the Challenge

• Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io or sign-in if already a member.
• Register for the challenge by clicking “Register as a participant”.

Step 2: Submit A Proposal

• Create a new project by click “create new project” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster page.
• Submit a proposal by answering questions in the tab and including your Hackster project.

Step 3: Contenders Selection

• 10 contenders will be selected by the judges based on judge's reviews of the proposals.

Step 4: Contenders will Build and Submit your Project as Solutions

• Keep updating your project and make sure it meets all the final solution submission requirements.
• Submit your project by Sep 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT by clicking “review and submit project” on the challenge page.

Challenges are a new type of contest. We are in the beta stage for this new feature.

Contenders will be announced by September 8, 2025. The list of contenders will be visible on the Submit a proposal tab.

Contest winners will be announced on September 30, 2025. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

• You are at least 13 years of age
  If you are 12 years or younger, you must receive a legal guardian's permission and have them complete Hackster’s contest permission form prior to submitting an entry into this contest. Send any questions to contests@hackster.io.
• You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
  US export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to the countries listed above, therefore residents of these countries are not eligible to participate in this challenge.
• You are not involved in the execution or administration of this contest.
• You must not be an immediate family member or household member of any Hackster.io or Seeed Studio employee.

Only official contenders are able to submit solutions to this challenge. Please take your time and submit a thorough proposal in order to be considered.