Design Competitions

Sometimes it takes an intensive and immersive experience that only requires a small amount of time commitment to make a huge, impactful, and momentous difference. They come in many flavors, but I've seen Design Competitions bring out remarkably innovative ideas from all age groups.

NextFab Design Challenge 2024

This four-day competition for high school students was hosted at NextFab, a professional makerspace. It'll be the first of many! ...more

Design Competitions

February 01, 20251 min read

NextFab Design Challenge 2024

iDesign Challenge 2023

This 4-hr hackathon was hosted at Camden Catholic High School for local middle schools. ...more

Design Competitions

February 01, 20251 min read

iDesign Challenge 2023

What Next?

These kinds of competitions or hackathons range widely in duration and target audience. I'm looking to continue collaborating with NextFab to bring maker experiences for all age groups, but most foreseeably with other high school, college, or professional groups. I find that opportunities for innovation are sometimes stifled at the corporate level and these short-term commitments are great for team building, revitalization, and generation of new ideas. I can also see similar competitions doing very well with organizations with their own makerspaces already, such as universities. Makerspaces are too often underutilized. Let's get making!

- An Nguyen, PhD