Sparking Innovation in 4 Hours: The iDesign Challenge

It's a common belief that meaningful learning and project-based innovation require an extensive amount of time. But it doesn't have to. I recently helped facilitate the annual iDesign Challenge, a hackathon-style event for middle school students, and saw firsthand how a few hours of focused, empathetic design can lead to incredible results. This year's event, which was hosted at Camden Catholic High School (CCCHS) on April 7, 2025, was a powerful demonstration of what young minds can accomplish when given the right tools and a clear mission.

As the Director of STEM and Robotics at CCHS, I worked alongside the Admissions Director to craft an event structure that would optimize every moment of our tight, after-school schedule. The goal was to conclude the evening with a high-stakes pitch contest for an audience of family, friends, and faculty. We started with the foundational principles.

From Design Thinking to a "Light-Bulb" Moment

The event began with an introductory session designed to teach students about design thinking as a user-centered problem-solving method. We had just 45 minutes to teach them not only how to approach a problem with empathy but also enough about circuits and electricity to tackle the year's unique challenge: "Let There Be Light!" Their mission was to create a light-based invention to solve a problem for a specific demographic.

Caption: Teaching middle school students about circuits and electricity in minutes!

Teams were given a workspace equipped with all the necessary tools—craft supplies, copper tape, LED lights, and batteries. To ensure success, we had already trained our student facilitators on the basics of circuits and electricity. These peer-to-peer mentors were instrumental in guiding the teams as they moved from brainstorming to prototyping. After a brief dinner break, the teams had a short period of time to use a template to prepare their final pitch presentation.

Caption: Students were provided with craft supplies, LED lights, copper tape, and batteries to prototype their inventions.

Empathy in Action: The Winning Project

The evening culminated in a "Shark Tank"-style pitch contest. Every project was impressive, but the winning team, Christ the King's "Bright Knights," stood out with their uniquely empathetic project. Their invention was a device that would allow nonverbal hospital patients to communicate with staff. It was a profound and moving moment to see these young students apply their skills to a real-world problem with such compassion.

Caption: The winners, Bright Knights from Christ the King, created a communication device for nonverbal patients.

The Bright Knights' project was a perfect example of what a STEM education should be: a platform for creativity and problem-solving, anchored in a genuine desire to help others. For their innovative work, each team member was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. I was also honored to serve as one of the judges, witnessing their remarkable creativity and ambition firsthand.

The iDesign Challenge proved that a short, impactful event can inspire a new generation of problem-solvers. The empathy we witnessed from students like the Bright Knights is a testament to the fact that when we give students the right challenges and the right support, they will do amazing things.

Additional coverage:

• Middle School Students Compete at CCHS' 3rd iDesign Challenge (from Camden Catholic High School)