6th Annual IDSA-STL Student Design Competition,

About the event

In celebration of our sixth competition anniversary, IDSA-STL has once again partnered with the Saint Louis Science Center to host our regional student design competition. The partnership continues as a tremendous opportunity for our Saint Louis chapter, the IDSA organization, student participants, and the general public. The competition coincides with the 2016 opening of the Science Center’s brand new 50,000 sf. GROW exhibit (link is external) (grand opening June 18^th, 2016). Described by the Science Center: “GROW is a one-of-a-kind permanent indoor/outdoor exhibit dedicated to the experience of the journey of our food supply from farm to table. This immersive and hands-on destination will show visitors the role that each of us plays in the stewardship of our food supply.” The agricultural topic for the competition was derived as an outcome from this highly relevant exhibition.

THE CHALLENGE:

Your challenge is to evaluate and define a solution to the scenario below. How you approach the problem through the caliber of your research is equally as important as what you do with it.
In the spirit of our partner, your design solution should be in keeping with the mission of the Saint Louis Science Center: “To ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning.”

THE TASK:

Amongst a rapidly rising global population, worldwide agricultural resources are diminishing. Current trends have identified urban farming as an opportunity to help satisfy food security pressures within these sectors. This year, we challenge teams to use design thinking methods and evaluate urban farming to propose an innovative solution for facilitating food security into urban populations.

Your team’s design solution must be the result of well-researched findings evaluating sustainable, urban farming progressive practices for a specific urban market determined by your team. Your presentation should include a summary of research evaluations, the product solution as an answer to your research, and an implementation plan to ensure financial sustainability of your product.

Be prepared to address, and possibly discuss, any related business applications of your design solution (i.e.: marketability, anticipated time-to-market, return on investment, phasing, etc).

Why should you sponsor?

You consideration for generous support is much appreciated.

This is an incredible design compeition event that has grown annually. The competition attracts university level design students from across the Midwest. Such institutions include universities such as the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Notre Dame, the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, and the Milwalkee Institute of Art & Design. The Saint Louis Science Center is our partner and will offer their beautiful Boeing Hall as the venue to hold this event. Your support helps to finance awards, catering, photography and graphic signage. The topic of urban farming aims to take steps to find practical/marketable solutions to help overcome food scarcity within the urban core.

Students competiting at this event gain tremendous professional training life skills including: working in teams (required), public presentation before a jury of professionals as well as general public, research, visualizations in presentation, & business plan.

Tony Schmidt

Tony Schmidt, IDSA-STL Chapter Education Chair
*****@****.***

IDSA Saint Louis (IDSA-STL) seeks to support our local community, mentor design students, and advocate interdisciplinary opportunities whenever possible. This student competition supports each of these goals, and we invite you to bring your best ideas forward for this event.

Our aim is simple: Provide an opportunity for development and presentation of unique research oriented design solutions for review before a professional jury, and the general public. This opportunity enables design students to supplement their portfolios while also enhancing credentials demonstrating team-developed presentations within a professional atmosphere and world-class institution. While student entrants are required to work as teams, the greater opportunity is to collaborate across multiple disciplines (to include those students outside of the design professions).

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