When Veerisa Boonrod from ESIC and Atipa Rungrojboon from Boonrawd Trading entered Cairns Hatchlings, they brought with them open minds, new perspectives and a willingness to step far beyond their comfort zones.
As finalists in the Design category at Hatchlings 2025, they turned that mindset into a campaign that celebrated courage, purpose, and storytelling.
Speaking with B&T ahead of the 2026 Hatchlings competition, Boonrod said their key motivator was to challenge themselves while empowering women.
Entries for Cairns Hatchlings, presented by Yahoo, are open now!
“The idea originated from this one statement in the brief: Challenging ourselves both mentally and physically, going out of the comfort zone. I found it inspiring and fresh, so we decided to emphasise and develop the design based on it,” Boonrod said.
That clarity of purpose came from deep research and empathy for the women involved in the Women On A Mission charity partner.
“First of all, we did research on the organisation’s mission, vision and purpose, and learned more about the client. ‘Rooted in purpose, shaped by passion, and driven by real-world impact’. We wanted to tell real stories,” she said.
From there, design became storytelling in motion. “During design ideation, we created a wireframe by hand first, then created a digital wireframe and mockup. In addition to the visual elements, we paid extra attention to the narrative and website structure, highlighting communities and testimonials; every scroll was designed to tell a story,” Boonrod explained.
The pair even tackled a rebrand as part of their submission. “We also worked on the logo, refreshing and reimagining it. The new logo was inspired by the organisation’s values and authenticity. The design reflected the ground, earth and communities, showcased through the colour and form.”
For Boonrod, Hatchlings was a first in every sense. “The Hatchlings is my first hackathon and design competition ever! So the format was the most challenging but also even more exciting. I think working on a new design challenge — digesting the brief, achieving the requirements, as well as the creativity required for the campaign, within 24 hours, is the biggest challenge for me. The pressure and anticipation were so intense.”
Rungrojboon faced challenges of her own, but her determination to grow made the experience worthwhile. “The first challenge for me was the language barrier. I was very nervous about communication, but since I wanted to improve, I pushed myself to try. Once I started talking to people at the event, everyone was so friendly that I ended up enjoying the atmosphere every day. Another big challenge was the limited time to create the work. It was very stressful to complete everything within such a short deadline. On top of that, cultural differences made the process more complex. Still, I truly enjoyed the experience; it was both fun and challenging, and I would love to have it again.”
For the pair, Hatchlings became a test of resilience, teamwork, and trust. “In addition to time and resource management. The challenge inspired me to push the boundary further, challenging a non-traditional design approach, and to be brave in approaching a future challenge,” said Boonrod. “The competition pushed me as a designer, honed my skills, not only tools, but also communication and collaboration. Furthermore, I’ve learned from the other amazing Hatchling teams’ work and the panel feedback, which I greatly appreciated.”
Rungrojboon said the same lessons applied to teamwork. “It really helped me practice prioritising tasks and working effectively as a team. The time pressure sometimes made us miss small details, but having teammates meant we could support and strengthen each other.”
Despite the pressure, both found immense pride in what they created. “I was proud of all the work we’ve done. However, I think I’m most proud of the website design and mockup,” said Boonrod.
“Upon receiving the brief, I found website design, including creating UI, wireframes, and a prototype, to be the biggest challenge, especially working under the limitations. So to be able to overcome the difficulties, work tirelessly and achieve the outcomes was rewarding. Live pitching was also another great session. We’re so nervous at first, but the panel were so nice, I’m truly grateful for the encouragement and feedback from them.”
Rungrojboon echoed that pride. “I’m most proud of the rebranding we created from the brief. Even under pressure, we managed to come up with a concept and design that felt modern and fresh while still fitting the requirements. Even though we didn’t win, I personally loved the work we produced.”
But more than design lessons, Hatchlings gave them perspective, both creatively and personally. “The most important thing was learning to embrace cultural differences and open myself up to new perspectives,” said Rungrojboon. “Back home, I usually work in a familiar environment, but this competition with people from many countries showed me how much more there is to discover in the creative field.”
And for those thinking of entering, both say the rewards far outweigh the nerves. “The experience is exceptional,” said Boonrod. “Cairns is beautiful. The Hatchling was a challenge, but so rewarding. It really challenges and pushes you beyond limits. I would like to highlight the connections and friends I’ve made and learned a lot from. Hatchling is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. I’m truly grateful to the team for allowing us to be a part of this. If given the chance, I’d be joining again for sure.”
“Because it’s both highly challenging and incredibly rewarding,” added Rungrojboon. “You meet people, gain experiences that will change the way you think about work, and push yourself beyond your limits. If you’re looking for something that’s demanding yet exciting, Hatchlings is absolutely the place to be.”
Entries for Cairns Hatchlings, presented by Yahoo, are open now!
