SharePoints : Explore the Newest Features in 2025

Key insights

• The SharePoint Hackathon is a 50-minute live stream event focused on designing custom portals using the latest SharePoint features, emphasizing UX design and beautiful portal creation.


• The hackathon invites participants to create exceptional employee experiences with AI and new SharePoint functionalities. It encourages diverse entries from end users, designers, architects, and developers.


• Participants can submit projects in various categories: Solutions using SharePoint Agents, designs with out-of-the-box features, Viva Connections Dashboard experiences, and extensible experiences with SPFx.


• The hackathon runs from March 4th to March 17th. Submissions are due by March 17th at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be announced on March 26th during the awards ceremony.


• Projects will be judged based on innovation, impact, technical usability, and alignment with the hackathon category. Categories include creative intranet front page design, Viva Connections dashboard design, use of SharePoint Agents, and intranet extensibility with SPFx.


• All participants who submit a project will receive a digital badge. Submission must be completed by February 28th at 11:59 PM PST to qualify for the badge.

Introduction to the SharePoint Hackathon

The SharePoint Hackathon is an exciting event that brings together a diverse group of participants, including end users, designers, architects, and developers. This hackathon is dedicated to crafting exceptional employee experiences using AI and the latest SharePoint features. With a focus on creating engaging and dynamic experiences, the hackathon showcases the power of SharePoint as a platform for innovation. The event runs from March 4th to March 17th, with submissions due by March 17th, 11:59 PM PST. Participants have the opportunity to win exciting prizes by showcasing their creativity and technical skills in various categories. The hackathon also includes a series of live streams and office hours to provide guidance and support to participants.

Exploring Custom Portal Designs in SharePoint

One of the key highlights of the SharePoint Hackathon is the focus on custom portal designs. The event includes a 50-minute live stream session that delves into the art of creating beautiful portals using SharePoint. This UX design-focused session provides valuable insights into how these portals are built, with live Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions featuring core intranet experts from the product team. The session aims to inspire participants by showcasing example designs and explaining the process behind their creation. By leveraging the latest SharePoint features, participants can explore the possibilities of designing custom portals that meet their specific business needs.

Utilizing SharePoint Agents and SPFx

The hackathon also highlights the innovative use of SharePoint Agents and the SharePoint Framework (SPFx). SharePoint Agents are powerful tools that enhance efficiency and streamline processes within the platform. During the event, a session titled "Unlocking Efficiency: SharePoint Agents in Action" demonstrates the practical applications of these agents. Additionally, the hackathon encourages participants to explore the extensibility of SharePoint through SPFx. This framework allows for the creation of custom SharePoint portal experiences, enabling participants to elevate the user experience and incorporate AI scenarios. The session "Using SharePoint Framework (SPFx) to Elevate SharePoint Portal UX" provides valuable insights into maximizing the potential of SPFx.

Transforming Employee Experiences with Viva Connections

Viva Connections is another key focus area of the hackathon. Participants have the opportunity to transform employee experiences by designing stunning dashboards within Viva Connections. These dashboards serve as a central hub for employees, providing them with easy access to important information and resources. The session "Transforming Employee Experiences with Stunning Dashboards in Viva Connections" explores creative card layouts and features that enhance the user experience. Participants can utilize out-of-the-box features and customizations, such as card designers and Power Cards, to create impactful dashboards tailored to their organization's needs.

Judging Criteria and Prizes

Projects submitted to the SharePoint Hackathon will be evaluated by a panel of judges, including Microsoft engineers, product managers, and developer advocates. The judging criteria encompass innovation, impact, technical usability, and alignment with the corresponding hackathon category. The hackathon features four different categories, each with its own set of judging criteria:

• Most Creative Intranet Front Page: This category focuses on beautiful designs using out-of-the-box features like flexible layouts and the Editorial Card web part.
• Most Creative Viva Connections Dashboard: Participants are encouraged to design Viva Connection dashboards with creative card layouts and features, including customizations like card designers and SPFx.
• Most Creative Use of SharePoint Agents: This category evaluates the demonstration of SharePoint agent use cases with various materials and source files.
• Most Creative Intranet with Extensibility (SPFx): Participants are tasked with creating custom SharePoint portal experiences using SPFx, with extra points awarded for including AI scenarios.

Winners will be announced for each category, and all participants who submit a project will receive a digital badge. To receive the badge, participants must submit a form by February 28th, 11:59 PM PST.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The SharePoint Hackathon is an exciting opportunity for participants to showcase their creativity and technical skills while exploring the latest features of SharePoint. With a focus on custom portal designs, SharePoint Agents, SPFx, and Viva Connections, the hackathon offers a platform for innovation and collaboration. Participants are encouraged to register and join the hackathon to unleash their creativity and contribute to the vibrant SharePoint community. Whether you're an end user, designer, architect, or developer, there's a place for you in this dynamic event. Don't miss the chance to participate and potentially win exciting prizes while gaining valuable insights into the world of SharePoint.

Keywords

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