Junction 2024 buzzed with energy, bringing together innovators, creators, and collaborators from all corners of the globe for Europe’s largest hackathon. Among the highlights of this year’s event was Huawei’s exciting contribution as a partner: the Creative 3D UI Apps challenge.

Using Huawei’s cutting-edge Ark Graphics Design Studio, participants were tasked with designing applications that combined 2D and 3D user interfaces with visually stunning effects. The goal? To redefine user experiences and make applications more engaging, intuitive, and fun.

The results were nothing less than extraordinary. After hours of brainstorming, coding, and caffeine-fueled creativity, here are the standout projects that wowed us all.

🥇 Winner: The Enchanted Library

Picture a library, but not just any library—an enchanted one.

The winning project transformed digital artwork into something truly magical. Using Huawei's Lume Studio, the team brought Finnish National Gallery’s copyright-free collection to life. Images were preprocessed with Python, UV-mapped, and animated into mesmerizing 3D scenes.

Cubes took center stage, moving like stamps and leaving artistic marks on the ground as they glided through space. On Android, the app cleverly used sensors to control the movement of these cubes, making it interactive and endlessly fascinating.

🥈 Second Place

WeatherPaper took wallpapers to a whole new dimension—literally.

Imagine your lock screen reflecting your exact environment: sunny cityscapes, moonlit forests, or rain-soaked skylines. This dynamic wallpaper doesn’t just look gorgeous; it also delivers real-time weather and location data in a way that feels playful and elegant.

The possibilities are endless—interactive games, famous landmarks, and even customization options where users can create their own weather-themed islands. Who knew a simple glance at your phone could be so engaging?

Beegin', on the other hand, solved a universal frustration: confusing product manuals.

Instead of dense text and unclear diagrams, Beegin' offers interactive 3D guides for gadgets. Need to figure out that tricky coffee machine? A 3D model lets you explore its features intuitively, step by step.

This app is a game-changer for customer experience, promising a future where learning to use new tech is as easy as a few taps and swipes.

🥉 Third Place

Scootaware made safety cool.

Designed for e-scooters, this app turns your smartphone into a high-tech co-pilot. Using machine vision and AI, it creates a 3D map of your surroundings, alerting you to potential hazards like cars or pedestrians. With added features like speed, range, and directions, Scootaware proves that safety doesn’t have to come at the cost of style.

SmartTamagucci blended nostalgia with innovation.

By snapping a picture of your pet, users could create a 3D avatar that acts as a smart assistant. This virtual companion integrates with your device’s sensors to provide weather updates, activity recommendations, and even hydration reminders. Think of it as a Tamagotchi on steroids, designed to support you in your daily life.

TimeBlocks turned time management into a visual delight.

Gone are the days of dull calendar grids. This 3D app visualizes your schedule as height-adjustable blocks, with colors and transparency indicating priority and busyness. The result? A calendar that’s not only functional but also fun to use, offering a better work-life balance at a glance.

Why Challenges Like This Matter

What made Huawei’s challenge special wasn’t just the impressive tech—it was the creativity and problem-solving on display. Each team leveraged the Ark Graphics Design Studio to create applications that push the boundaries of what’s possible, combining beauty and functionality in ways we haven’t seen before.

From interactive art to safety solutions and smart pets, these projects are proof of how hackathons like Junction empower developers to dream big. And who knows? These innovations could soon be shaping the future of apps we all use daily.