This paper presents a collaborative hackathon initiative between the Software Engineering (SE) and Visual Communication (VC) departments at an academic engineering college. The hackathon brought together students from “Software Project Management” and “User Experience and Cognition” courses, working in agile development teams to bridge the gap between technical and design focuses. By fostering active learning and simulating real-world digital system development, the hackathon allowed SE students to apply their technical expertise while learning design thinking and usability principles. VC students gained experience translating technical requirements into visually compelling designs. This collaboration facilitated a deeper understanding of user-centered design and the software agile development process, promoting critical thinking and creativity aligned with Bloom’s highest learning levels: analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Student feedback reflected a mix of positive insights and constructive criticism, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in enhancing user experience while identifying areas for improvement, such as feedback clarity and the need for better time management during the hackathon. The study’s approach mirrors key aspects of professional environments, preparing students to tackle the real-world challenges they will encounter after graduation.