Idea Mesh is an “anti-algorithm” Q&A platform I conceived, designed, and built from scratch in just three days for the AdventureX 2025 Hackathon. I was responsible for Designing and Engineering, from initial idea to a deployed full-stack application.
The Problem with Predictable Answers
I was tired of seeing the same generic, engagement-driven answers dominate online discussions. When someone asks for travel advice, they often get a list of the same top 10 tourist traps. I wanted to build a space that actively encourages unique perspectives, rewarding originality over popularity. The goal was to create a platform where human experience, not algorithms, dictates the best answer.
My Solution: Engineering Originality
I handled everything from the user interface design to the full-stack development. I used Next.js to build a clean and responsive front end, and chose Convex for its powerful all-in-one backend, database, and real-time capabilities, which was perfect for a fast-paced hackathon.
The core of Idea Mesh is its unique use of AI. Instead of using an LLM to answer questions, I used it to generate a generic, cliché “social media-y” response first. This sets a baseline of what not to say, challenging users to be more creative and share answers that are genuinely different.