Announcing the University of the Future Design Challenge Winners

After a busy week of printing and judging submissions, our judges Associate Provost and Chief Information Officer, Annette Marksberry, Professor Gary Lewandowski, Director of the Xavier Center for Innovation, Dave Zlatic, and MakerBot trainer and representative, Poppy Lyttle, have chosen the winners! First place winners in three different categories received $150 Visa gift cards and 100 grams of free printing. Second place winners in each category received 50 grams of free printing at the CFI.

I am just in awe of what these individuals were able to achieve in such a short amount of time. If you’ll recall last week I posted about the Design Challenge and explained how over 70 participants from all over the community attended a week of 3D designing, scanning, and printing training for FREE right here at our CFI. Many of the participants had never used a 3D printer before, let alone designed anything before–and by week’s end they had created and submitted these amazing designs!

Whenever people say to me: Why 3D printing? Why here? Why now? I want to just point to these participants–teachers, professors, students, and community members–and their designs and simply say: This. This is why. Because through this technology we an imagine and innovate. We can create. We can explore. We can envision what is possible. We can solve problems–together–using technology, creativity, and innovation.

And without further adieu, I’d like to introduce and congratulate all of our winners!

First Category: University Structures of the Future

How do you envision the look of the campus in 2025? 

The Xavier ReLeaf Station

First Place Winner: Releaf Station designed by Megan Bowling

The Xavier Releaf Station combines new technology and structures of 2025. Students are constantly looking for ways to manage time, especially self-care when involved with classes, organizations, and oftentimes multiple jobs. The Releaf Station provides the rejuvenation students are begging for. The station is made to mirror the structure of a tree while being completely solar energy panels. The bottom of the tree may seem odd, but it is a floatation tank, otherwise known as a total sensory deprivation chamber. This chamber allows students to “float” in over 700 pounds of epsom salt, combined with water, giving you a total sensory deprivation. The tank is also totally sound proof and dark, so it is an experience like no other. “The ultra-deep relaxation of floating “resets” the body’s hormonal and metabolic balance, strengthening resistance to and accelerating recovery from the effects of stress, illness, injury or strenuous exercise.Unless you are an astronaut, this is the only situation you will encounter where your body is free from the harmful forces of gravity.

Second Place Winner:  Soccer Stadium designed by Vincent Shaw

Future Xavier Soccer Stadium

Second Category: Learning and teaching in the Future

What will the teaching aids and components of the classroom used by professors and students look like in 2025?

First Place Winner– Allene and Acetylene Models designed by Dr. Stephen Mills – Assistant Professor, Chemistry

Allene and Acetylene Models

This 3D manipulative of both Acetylene and Allene chemicals can be used to show chemical bonds for classroom demonstration.

Second Place Winner – Blood Antibody Exercise designed by Dr. Heather Balyeat – Instructor, Biology

Blood Antibody Exercise

This set of manipulatives was designed to help students understand blood type and antibody/antigen pairings. It is intended to insert a magnet on the bottom so they can be used on a magnetic white board in small groups. However, you could also insert the magnets and then combine two halves for complete model.

Third Category New Technologies

How will technology develop and what might those new technologies look like in 2025?

First Place Winner– Raised  Garden Cinder Block Connector designed by Leonard Rich

Raised Garden Cinder Block Connector

These raised garden cinder block connectors can be used to keep soil from spilling out from between cinder blocks and used in raised garden beds.

Second Place – Computer designed by Alex Fuerst

Computer

Honorable Mention — More than Grades designed by Gracie Carver-Dew

More Than Grades

This is a representation of how the designer sees education changing away from test scores and more towards interests. The education system of the future will be able to tap into a student’s passions and create a more productive (and happy) individual for their future career. One pencil reps Fine Arts and the other Math/Science interests.

Congratulations to all the participants! Stay tuned for the launch of our 3D Print Shop coming this summer. We’ll also be launching more 3D Printing tutorials and how-to programs in the fall. If you would like to print or design something in the meantime, contact Dave Zlatic at [email protected]. Be sure to visit our website for a list of all of our other Sandbox Sessions–that include training programs in Design Thinking, Storytelling, Empathy Mapping, Journey Mapping, and much more. Come play with us!