Introducing the e-NABLE Community Design Challenges: CREATE T.I.M.E. (Think. Imagine. Make. e-NABLE.)
The first 3D printed hand created for a child who was born missing fingers, came from the collaboration between two men who lived 10,000 miles apart from each other and who worked together despite the distance, to create a device that would help one little boy.
From this first act of kindness, a global community of thousands of people, from all walks of life and all ages, have come together to challenge themselves and each other to create new designs, improve current designs and share their creations with the world!
With more and more schools, youth groups, scout troops, robotics and engineering clubs participating in assembling the basic e-NABLE hand designs as STEM (Science. Technology. Engineering. Math) based learning projects – now seems like a great time to start offering design challenges that individuals of all ages can participate in that will not only encourage young minds to think outside of the box, but will hopefully generate some wonderful new, fun and useful creations that recipients can use as tools in their daily lives!
Introducing our new monthly series of “CREATE T.I.M.E.” (Think. Imagine. Make. e-NABLE.) Challenges!
Over the next year, I plan to offer monthly challenges that will help expand the number of current devices available, improve older designs and encourage kids and adults to think outside of the box! Not all challenges will be based on hands or upper limb devices! You do not need a 3D printer to participate!
Sometimes I get interesting requests in my email inbox requesting help designing assistive devices for animals of all types or individuals who have other needs that could benefit from a community of creatively minded makers willing to donate their time to collaborate and come up with solutions for those in need.
Once in a while the challenge may just be something artistic or perhaps a request for resources to be created that will help the global community with spreading the e-NABLE project more easily into the world!
All of these challenges are open to anyone who wishes to participate!
Younger Participants will potentially gain:
• Experience using 3D design software.
• Experience working with others through collaboration and idea sharing.
• Volunteer hours to put toward college applications and scouting requirements.
• Increased problem solving skills.
• Experience solving real world problems.
My hope is that you will participate simply for the sake of knowing that you are using your ideas and imaginations to change the world for the better for someone else who needs your help to find ways to make their lives a little easier – but some of these challenges will also have prizes associated with them now and again! If you are a company that is interested in sponsoring a design challenge, please email me at jen.owen@enablingthefuture.org!
Each Challenge will have specific rules and instructions so please make sure to follow the directions carefully in order to participate and to make sure your design contribution is included! We want everyone to see your wonderful creations and we want them to be easily found by those who might benefit from your creativity!
Check back once a month for our new challenges!
Please check out the challenges below and feel free to participate in all of them or enter more than one design for each!
Click on the image to be directed to the challenge’s information pages!
JANUARY 2016 – CREATE T.I.M.E. CHALLENGE
Challenge: Design attachments for the Python utility hand.
Challenge dates: January 27th, 2016 to April 15th, 2016
**CONTEST EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 15TH, 2016 – DUE TO SPRING BREAK!
Winners announced: on April 30Th 2016
Who can enter: Individual designers of all ages or groups/collaborations.
Prizes: Yes
How to enter: CLICK HERE
Challenge: Create Star Wars Themed 3D printed e-NABLE arms and hands for Ultimaker‘s Star Wars Themed design contest.
Challenge Dates: February 22, 2016 to March 21st, 2016
Winners announced by Ultimaker
Who can enter: Individual designers of all ages
Prizes: Yes
How to enter: CLICK HERE
Challenge: Create a Steampunk themed 3D Printed e-NABLE hand or arm design for e-NABLE France’s design contest!
Challenge Dates: March – May 2016
Winners announced: By e-NABLE France after public vote on submitted designs
Prizes: Yes
How to enter: CLICK HERE
Challenge: Create a 3D printable design for the Instructables & 3D Hubs 3D Printing Contest 2016 in the “Health” Category!
Challenge Dates: April 4 to June 27th, 2016
Winners Announced: Via Instructables on their contest page!
Prizes: Yes
How to enter: CLICK HERE