For Students
Design Challenges
Student Design Challenges
prepare the next generation of leaders ready to solve our most pressing problems.
SPONSOR a Design Challenge TOday!
Every design challenge begins with a real world, system level problem, co-created by industry and community partners. Students are introduced to an Innovator's Toolkit that combines design thinking and social entrepreneurship. They are asked to collaborate on the creation of new and novel solutions to that problem. We tap into students' passion for making the world a better place and engage them in creating new products and services that have a triple-bottom-line value, good for the people, planet, and profit.
Students emerge with a new set of skills and confidence in their ability to turn a problem into an opportunity and add value in the world.
We build local, state, and regional design challenges
Design challenge offer many benefits across the community
STUDENTS
Gain confidence in self as an agent for change
Expand their capacity for creativity and initiative
Develop empathetic problem-solving skills using human-centered design
Become innovators and contributors to a sustainable economy
SCHOOLS
Expand a culture of innovation and elevated student voice
Add relevancy to learning & increase student engagement
Build educator proficiencies using design tools and mindsets
Access to grants for teacher stipends to run design challenges
INDUSTRY/COMMUNITY
Connect hundreds of students to the most important issues of the day
Prepare the next generation to solve complex problems
Develop employable skills ready to thrive in your company
Raise awareness about your company culture by linking with education
Learn more about design challenges below
School Year 2019-2020
PGE, Pacific Power, TRIMET, Clean Fuels Program
Future of Oregon Transportation
Six Middle School Design Teams - 187 6th-8th grade students from all across the state—were tasked with creating solutions to get Oregonians out of the gasoline powered cars and into electric transportation systems.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
summer 2019
PDX Innovation Quadrant
Future of health & wellness
Our annual summer challenge with partners College Possible asked students to uncovers new and novel ways to reduce Type II Diabetes across the community.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
summer 2019
Dallas School District & OCF--STEM HUB Grant
Future of WELLNESS & AGING
In this design challenge, we ask a team of students from the Dallas School District to identify, design, and test new ways to increase joy and connectedness for the residents of the Dallas Retirement Village Community.
2018: future of stuff
In the 2018 Breaker Design Challenge, supported by the Oregon Business Council, students looked at consumerism and limited life cycle of the “stuff” we buy.
Click here for more information
summer 2016
Ecotrust, Urban Development Partners & Zidell Yards
future of livable cities
In 2016, Construct and College Possible supported by industry leaders in commercial real estate asked a team of students to design products and services that would keep a city viable for long time residents along with new waves of professionals.
School Year 2019-2020
David Douglas HS & Construct Foundation Grant
future of equity in high schools
In this equity-focused design challenge, the Black Student Union at David Douglas High School will use the tools of design to identify new ways to address gaps in equity in a diverse high school community.
Summer 2017
Oregon Business Council
future of learning
In the 2017 Breaker Design Challenge, The Future of Learning students partnered with community and industry leaders in a two week sprint to investigate and design new product- and service-based solutions that improve education in the 21st century.
Summer 2015
New Seasons, Pacific Foods Farm, and Ecotrust
future of food
In 2015, Construct helped Breaker adapt the "Breakout" model for high school students and partnered with College Possible to run the Future of Food design challenge.