WON 2ND PLACE IN UI VISION AT ICON 2K26
A UI/UX case study on auditing and redesigning the Ibaco homepage for ICON 2K26 — identifying real UI errors and fixing them with a premium, story-driven redesign — securing 2nd place in UI Vision.
Introduction
I won 2nd place in the UI Vision event at ICON 2K26 — a national-level technical symposium by the Department of Information Technology, BSA Crescent Institute.
The competition was structured in two rounds, both centered around the real Ibaco website (www.ibaco.in).
You can explore the event at icon2k26.vercel.app.
Round 1 — UI Audit
The first round was to identify existing UI errors on the Ibaco website.
Here's what I flagged:
- Broken images: Several homepage visuals failed to load, breaking the visual experience
- No horizontal scroll support: Sections that required horizontal scrolling had no proper scroll mechanism — replaced with click buttons and drag interactions that felt unintuitive
- Inconsistent color usage: The color palette was applied inconsistently across sections, making the page feel disjointed
- Poor layout structure: The overall homepage layout lacked visual hierarchy and breathing room
Round 2 — Homepage Redesign
The second round was to fix the errors identified in Round 1.
I redesigned the complete homepage in Figma, using Google Stitch for layout references and inspiration.
Every decision was tied back to the audit findings:
- Fixed layout structure: Clear visual hierarchy, proper section spacing, and intentional rhythm throughout the page
- Resolved broken image areas: Replaced with high-impact dessert visuals that communicate texture and indulgence
- Replaced drag/click scroll interactions: Designed clean, intuitive navigation and browsing flows
- Unified color palette: Warm neutrals and rich accent tones applied consistently across all sections
- Premium typography: Editorial-style headings with elegant contrast
- Storytelling flow: Sections built to guide the user emotionally, not just functionally — hero, collections, heritage, gifting, product showcase
The goal was not just to make it look better — it was to make every error from Round 1 disappear and make Ibaco feel premium from the first scroll.
Outcome
This secured me 2nd place in UI Vision at ICON 2K26.
What this experience sharpened:
- Identifying real UI/UX problems, not just aesthetic opinions
- Making fast, justified design decisions under competition constraints
- Translating an audit directly into a focused, high-quality redesign
Closing
This competition reminded me that good design starts with honest observation.
Find what's broken. Fix it with intention. That's the whole job.