2024 Muhlenberg Innovation Challenge: Makerspace Edition
The 2024 Innovation Challenge will be a half-semester long opportunity for the Muhlenberg community to engage in creative competition for who can bring the most innovative ideas to life.
This year, the competition will feature four categories*: Decorative, Functional, Economic and Whimsical
Entrants may be individuals or teams of up to four people, and may submit one entry per entrant per category. Prizes will be awarded for the best in each category, as well as a best in show, presented at our annual Innovation Challenge celebration on April 26 at 5pm in the Fahy Commons Makerspace
Entries:
Entries should be submitted here: https://forms.gle/wwY4Y1xCFSy4dqen9
And then a follow up picture or video* should be sent to [email protected]
Entries must be submitted by midnight on Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Entries will be shown as they are submitted
Eligibility:
All Muhlenberg students are eligible to enter and win the prizes. Muhlenberg faculty and staff are encouraged to submit entries for recognition, but are not eligible to win monetary prizes.
Categories:
- Decorative
- These entries are designed to be aesthetically pleasing or striking. They can be of any size or composition. Examples could be jewelry, furniture, or designed fashion.
- Entries may be crafted anywhere, but extra points will be awarded to those created at least in part using the Makerspace resources.
- For maximum points, multiple media or machines would be used, and designs could be published for re-creation by other students.*
- Functional
- These entries solve a basic problem or assist someone in a task. Examples could include adaptive devices or a process for tracking chairs in Fahy Commons.
- Entries must include a visual component, even for services. That can be website wireframes or a mockup of various components in a process.
- Entries may be crafted anywhere, but extra points will be awarded to those created at least in part using the Makerspace resources.
- Economic
- These entries are products or services that could be sold or be the foundation of a business. These could include prototype products, or innovative ideas with an established market and competition.
- Entries must include a visual component, even for services. That can be website wireframes or a mockup of various components in a process.
- Entries may be crafted anywhere, but extra points will be awarded to those created at least in part using the Makerspace resources.
- Whimsical*
- These entries are for… we don’t know what, exactly. But we are sure they are cool. This could be a design for a farmer's market stand staffed by squirrels, or a machine with many parts that performs a menial task in an overcomplicated way.
- Entries must include a visual component, even for services. That can be website wireframes or a mockup of various components in a process.
- Entries may be crafted anywhere, but extra points will be awarded to those created at least in part using the Makerspace resources.
Prizes:
The prizes will be as follows:
- The winner of every category will receive $100 and a trophy
- The Best in Show will receive an additional $150 and a (bigger) trophy
- The Best in Show creator will be enshrined on the Makerspace Wall of Fame* for probably ever.
