From Frontend Developer to Design Winner: meet diwosuwanto!

One of the best things about Topcoder is the freedom to choose the challenges you participate in and compete in the tracks that interest you most—whether it’s design, development, marathon matches, AI, or data science. There’s plenty to explore while learning through hands-on experience. We all know that no matter how many tutorials you read, nothing beats learning by doing.

Throughout my journey at Topcoder, I’ve seen designers try algorithm competitions, developers take on data science challenges, and newcomers dive into a domain, work hard, and eventually become top members in their field. Passion, determination, and hard work make all the difference. As a community manager and copilot, it’s always exciting to follow these journeys—many of them truly inspiring.

Recently, I noticed one of our developers, diwosuwanto, competing in design challenges. His ideas were thoughtful, though the visual execution needed refinement. Then, to my surprise, within a week, he won first place twice! I was eager to learn more about his passion for design.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your journey into software development?

I'm Diky Diwo Suwanto, a frontend developer who loves working with React.js and Next.js. I got into software development because I was curious about how websites and apps are built. Over time, I focused on frontend development, particularly on creating fast and user-friendly web applications. I enjoy learning new things and improving my skills to build better user experiences.

You've recently won 1st place in two design challenges—congratulations! What made you decide to start competing in design challenges specifically?

Thank you! I joined design challenges because I wanted to challenge myself and improve my UI/UX skills. Since I specialize in frontend development, I thought it would be a great way to deepen my understanding of design and create better user experiences. Plus, it's really fun to push my creativity and see how my ideas compare with others!

diwosuwanto’s 1st place winning submission in the [72 Hours] Topcoder Map Visualization Design Challenge

How did you approach these design challenges? What was your process from understanding the requirements to submitting your design?

I started by analyzing the challenge requirements and researching designs for inspiration. I also learned from past mistakes by reviewing previous winning submissions to see what worked well. Then, I created the design, made improvements, and submitted it. And I always check the forum discussions for additional insights about the challenge!

Did your experience as a developer help you in any way with the design challenges? If so, how? Absolutely! Since I specialize in frontend development, I see many similarities with UI/UX design. The main difference is that frontend development brings designs to life with code, while UI/UX designers use tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to create them.

In Topcoder's frontend challenges, the task sometimes involves building an app based on a design challenge submission. These designs are high-quality submissions from Topcoder Talent and have been reviewed by a Topcoder reviewer. I’ve learned a lot from them—like choosing the right fonts, using proper spacing (such as the 4px grid system), and ensuring designs look clean and polished in code. This experience has also helped me improve my UI/UX skills along the way!

diwosuwanto’s 1st place winning submission in the Topcoder Opportunities Visualization Design Challenge

What do you think set your submissions apart and led to your victories?

This is my first design challenge win on Topcoder, but it’s not my first time participating in design challenges. Whenever I don't win, I review the winning submissions to understand what made them stand out. From there, I continuously learn and improve—focusing on better understanding challenge requirements and finding strong UI/UX references.

The most important factors are thoroughly understanding the requirements, creating a smooth user experience, and designing a UI that looks great and feels comfortable for users. And, of course, following best practices like using the 4px grid system—it makes designs much cleaner and more consistent!

Final Thoughts

Diky’s journey is a perfect example of how pushing beyond your comfort zone can lead to incredible growth. By stepping into design challenges, he not only expanded his skill set but also proved that a strong foundation in one discipline can be an asset when exploring another. His success highlights the power of continuous learning, feedback, and perseverance—qualities that define the Topcoder community.

Whether you’re a designer curious about development, a developer exploring AI, or someone entirely new to competitive challenges, Topcoder provides the space to experiment, improve, and excel. The key is to stay curious, keep learning, and embrace the challenge. You never know—you might just find yourself winning in a field you never imagined before!