Apple’s annual Swift Student Challenge continues to inspire young developers across the globe. As the 2026 edition approaches, past winners share how they turned creativity into code using SwiftUI, Apple’s app development framework.
Brayden Gogis, a 2019 winner, began his journey after discovering a game made by a fellow teenager. “The App Store felt accessible,” he explained, crediting SwiftUI for making app design intuitive. His first app, Solisquare, evolved into Joybox, a positive social media platform that encourages users to share gratitude. “I love people, and I want to improve lives through technology,” Gogis said.
From Handmade Cards to Digital Creativity
For 2024 winner Sofia Sandoval, app development became a way to connect with others while studying computer science at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Feeling homesick, she built Carino, an app that digitizes her tradition of creating handmade cards. Using SwiftUI, she replicated the experience of writing and flipping a paper card. “Everyone gets texts these days,” Sandoval said. “I wanted the app to feel personal and thoughtful.”
Her curiosity didn’t stop there—she later adapted her app for Apple Vision Pro, exploring new ways to blend creativity with immersive technology.
Coding for Accessibility and Change
Adrit Rao, a three-time winner and now a premed student at UC Berkeley, used Apple’s Machine Learning tools to create Signer, an app that converts sign language into speech. “The App Store makes it easy to share my work beyond my community,” Rao said. His project reflects how technology can break barriers and create inclusive experiences.
The 2026 Challenge Awaits
The 2026 Swift Student Challenge opens on February 6, running for three weeks. To help students prepare, Apple is launching new Develop in Swift tutorials and hosting coding sessions for students and educators. Winners will be announced at WWDC 2026.
With each new edition, Apple continues to foster innovation and creativity, proving that the next big idea might just come from a student with a vision — and a little Swift code.
