We share highlights from D&F’s winning work for Meta in the Best DE&I Initiative category at this year’s micebook Awards… 

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 differences 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 axe-throwing, t-shirt printing and puzzle solving, made the event more accessible to those without strictly tech-based positions.

Massages were offered 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.”