Design Thinking
It is a methodology that allows us to solve challenges using our empathy to understand better people’s problems, our creativity to have brilliant ideas, and our skills to build and communicate them.
Digital Creation & Fabrication
Digital creation and fabrication allows any person to build objects or prototypes through design software and the use of 3D printing machines, laser cutting, CNC or an electronic laboratory. However, you can formalize your ideas through any technique you are comfortable with (app design, DIY crafting…)
Although there will be fixed dates for the workshops, you can go at your own pace, the important thing is that you show your process online at the end of each stage and present your project before the deadline.
We will launch the challenge in April and start with the inspiration phase. On April 21st we will do the first workshop to define the challenge and learn about digital manufacturing tools. We will meet up again on May 5th with the empathy phase already completed, in an ideation workshop where we will finish with an idea ready to start the making. We will get down to work to build our idea and meet again on May 26th to prepare the final presentation.
We will finish with a great open to-the-public event at Maker Faire Barcelona where we will get closer to the maker community. The event will divide in two parts:
- “Maker it with others”: feedback from making experts and the public to improve the projects or collaboration between teams with complementary solutions in a single project.
- “Pitch it”: presentation of the projects in front of a jury and awards.
Do you want to receive more information so you don’t miss it? Fill in this form and receive more information about the program and information sessions. You can also take a look at our Twitter to see what we have already shared of inspiration.
During this stage you can register, discover interesting videos, learn to use 3D programs, Arduino, discover innovative initiatives and everything that can help us prepare for the Challenge.
We will post on our website and Twitter everything we find interesting, but we encourage you to share with the hashtags #makerchallenge and #mcinspiración everything that you think we should know. We will get together at the end of this stage to get in touch with the maker world and define our challenges and the next steps.
It’s time to listen to users! You always understand better any situation if you put yourself in people’s shoes. To understand better our challenge, it will be helpful to ask people how they feel, what they like or what they would like to be different.
We will help you prepare your interviews and find the insights that will help you have better ideas.
We all have crazy and fantastic ideas that can come true. Now is the time to be as creative as we can and think about what things or actions could solve our challenge. We must remember that these ideas have to fit with what we have discovered in the empathy phase, and that the information from the interviews can be very useful and give very valuable clues.
We will meet up to understand the insights, focus on an idea and build the first low-fi prototype.
Let’s do it! How could our idea come true? Time to start building!
We encourage you to use the tools we present on our resources page or to approach a FabLab or digital fabrication laboratory in your city and build your idea. And if you can not have access to one, but you have designed your product with a 3D modelling program, you have programmed an app, or you have built a prototype with cardboard, it will also work!
Now it’s time to present our project and prototype in a video. We will have to explain to the world what problem our product solves, who is the final user, what have we taken into account when building it, and everything necessary to convince the jury that our idea is the best.
For our presentation and prototypes to be perfect, we will get together in a last workshop before the final event.
Frequently Asked Questions and Contact
How many hours will I have to dedicate to the challenge?
Everyone will be able to dedicate the hours that he/she thinks are necessary, but we recommend from 20 to 25 hours for the whole process during a period of 6 to 10 weeks, being the prototyping stage the most intensive since you will have to build your prototype.
How do I know if the Maker Challenge is for me?
We are looking for young people with diverse talents and desire to have ideas that change the world – beyond this, all profiles can contribute and learn from the challenge. You may like science and technology, maybe what attracts you is entrepreneurship or the desire to help others … Future doctors, engineers, economists or journalists … all talents are welcome!
Where does the Maker Challenge take place?
- In the face-to-face format, the workshops will be at FabLab Sant Cugat or at Creator Street’s space, in the center of Barcelona.
- In the online format, you can participate from anywhere in the world.
What will I get out of it?
- You will solve social impact real life problems in a creative way.
- You will have fun as a team and reinforce your creative confidence, as well as your empathy and initiative.
- You will strengthen the necessary skills for creative and scientific professions (“STEAM”).
- You will have the opportunity to have access to new digital manufacturing techniques (3D printing, arduino, laser cutting …)
I am a teacher, can I participate with my class?
Of course! We encourage you to create one or several teams in your class and follow the stages we propose! We have designed specific lesson plans and other support materials to assist teachers who participate with their class. Send us an e-mail to hola@makerchallenge.eu and we will give you more information about participation.
What are the different participation modes of the Maker Challenge?
You can participate in a face-to-face mode, through workshops and extra support with our online resources, or independently and online using the resources we provide for each stage. If you participate online and do not have a mentor to help you in your project or know of any makerspace, do not worry: we will help you find them.
Does participation have to be in group or individual?
We encourage participation in groups from 2 to 4 people, but it is perfectly fine if you feel more comfortable participating on your own.
What are the check points?
Participating either online or face-to-face, the Maker Challenge steps are designed to help you achieve a great outcome. That, and the fact that following the process is also part of the prize-giving criteria, we have stablished check points at the end of each stage. They basically consist on quick check-ins where you can share your work and receive our feedback.
How much does participating in the Maker Challenge cost?
The price changes depending on face-to-face or online participation, individually or in a group.
Is there a prize?
The Maker Challenge will have more than one prize, since we not only value the final result, but also the originality, the effort, the quality of the prototype and the documentation of the process.
Which challenge are we going to solve?
We are going to propose some social innovation related challenges, such as How can we reduce waste in schools? How can we facilitate the mobility of people in a wheelchair through the streets of our city? However, you can propose any challenge that interests you, the only condition is that it solves a social impact problem.
What are we going to do in the Maker Challenge workshops?
The workshops will help you answer the questions you have regarding your challenge, but also to learn to work in a different way (Design Thinking, digital making tools), in addition to meeting and connecting with other young people and learning while having fun.
Can I participate to some workshops only?
Yes, it is 40€ per workshop, on top of the inscription fee (30€).
Or email us to hola@makerchallenge.eu
