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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260807T100000
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SUMMARY:Summer CoDesign Student Challenge
DESCRIPTION:Summer 2026 CoDesign Student Challenge: The Reverse Blueprint\nEmpowering Young Creatives to Design Through Sustainable Innovation\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				CoDesign Collaborative invites 15 motivated high school students in Cambridge and the Greater Boston area to participate in the 2026 Summer CoDesign Student Challenge. This program provides young people with hands-on design experience in partnership with leading brands\, industry professionals\, and real-world clients. Students are compensated for their time\, in line with CoDesign Collaborative’s commitment to equity. \nProgram Overview & ObjectivesAlfred Byun\, Design Director at Gensler\, and Roxane Spears\, former VP of Sustainability at Tarkett\, will lead 15 Boston-area students through a two-part\, hands-on design workshop\, held on August 7 and 14\, where students will prototype\, design\, and build an everyday item using existing materials that can be deconstructed most efficiently into high-value components for a second life. Over the course of the two-week studio program\, students will be introduced to essential practices in sustainable product design\, material assessment\, and the 9 Planetary Boundaries. They will: \n\nMaster the “Afterlife” Design Philosophy:\n\nShift focus from the birth of a product to its demise\, ensuring materials enter a closed loop rather than a landfill.\nApply the 9 Planetary Boundaries: Learn how material assessment impacts Land System Change and Biosphere Integrity through the lens of product design.\n\n\nImplement “Benign Chemistry” Frameworks:\n\nPrioritize mechanical fasteners (bolts\, slots\, and tension) over toxic adhesives and “forever chemicals” to prevent material contamination.\n\n\nExecute a “Value-Sort” Assessment:\n\nUse a tiered scoring system—Blue (High)\, Yellow (Medium)\, and Red (Low)—to evaluate the reuse potential of every component.\n\n\nDevelop a Circular Lifecycle Map:\n\nCreate a strategic “Deconstruction Manual” that outlines the assembly\, projected lifespan\, and a step-by-step guide for 10-minute teardowns.\n\n\nPitch to Industry Experts:\n\nPresent final prototypes and deconstruction strategies to a panel of design jurors.\n\n\n\nProgram OutcomesThe workshops will culminate with a student presentation of their designs to a panel of professional designers. This allows students to articulate their design decisions and practice public presentation and “pitch” skills before a live audience. The panel of designers will contribute constructive feedback and select a series of “winning designs” based on material efficiency and deconstruction speed for special recognition. Student participants will leave with a completed design portfolio piece that demonstrates mastery of the “Circular Economy” and sustainable prototyping and a deeper understanding of how thoughtful product design can mitigate environmental impact. \nTime CommitmentStudents are required to participate in two\, four-hour long workshops\, from 10am-2pm ET on August 7 and 14. Lunch will be provided. \nStudent CompensationThe program will accept twelve students\, each awarded $200 each at the end of the challenge. \nLocationCambridge\, Massachusetts (accessible via the MBTA) \nEligibilityThe CoDesign Student Challenge program is open to current high school students in Cambridge and the Greater Boston Area. Applicants must show an interest in design/creativity\, but do not need a background in design. Creative skills are encouraged\, but we also encourage interdisciplinary skills in STEAM. CoDesign Collaborative is committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. We especially encourage women\, Black\, Indigenous\, People of Color\, LGBTQ+ people\, and people with disabilities to apply. \nSelection Criteria:Motivated\, self-directed\, and passionate individuals who are driven to better their communities. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Friday\, August 7\, 2026Friday\, August 14\, 2026\n10 am – 2 pm ET\nAttendance at both workshops is required. Lunch will be provided.\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				LocationCambridge\, MA\n			\n				Donate to The Education Fund\n			\n				Apply to Participate\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Deadline: Wednesday\, July 15\, 2026\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Design Educators \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Alfred ByunDesign Director\, Gensler(he/him/his) \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Roxane SpearsStrategic Sustainability Consultant(she/her/hers) \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				About Alfred (Alf) ByunAs a Design Director and Workplace Strategist based in Gensler’s Boston office\, Alfred advises companies on design strategy with the goal of creating work settings that promote innovation\, foster collaboration\, and drive organizational change. Alfred’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of project types and scales\, from small technology start-ups to large-scale company campuses and flagship headquarters. He has collaborated with such high-profile brands as Reebok\, on the relocation of their headquarters to Boston’s Seaport District\, and Mass General Brigham\, on a new ground-up administrative campus in Somerville. Alfred’s voice and vision have become a defining force in the design of technology and creative workplaces. He is a visiting lecturer at Cornell University\, his alma mater\, and a member of CoDesign Collaborative’s advisory Council. \n\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				About Roxane SpearsRoxane is the former Vice President of Sustainability for Tarkett North America\, where she led change for healthy materials\, low carbon footprint\,. and equity in sustainability. Roxane joined Tarkett over 20 years ago to be part of an organization that was focused on environmental issues. As the Vice President of Sustainability\, Roxane set sustainability strategy and policies to move Tarkett to a more circular economy focus and reduction of carbon emissions for Scope 1\,2 & 3. She set guidelines for products and facilities that made positive impacts on the health of people and the planet. \nShe continues to be a strong advocate for driving change in the built environment. Roxane believes that the intersection of health\, equity\, and climate change is the only way to move forward for positive change. She focuses on improvements for the deconstruction process\, indoor air quality\, and transparency. \nRoxane is a former member of CoDesign Collaborative’s Board of Directors and a current member of the RFCI Board. She is an advocate for educating children on what is possible. Roxane is committed to CoDesign Collaborative’s We Design program\, which platforms BIPOC and gender-expansive designers\, and the Boston Society of Architects’ Kids Build program. Both programs help children learn about architecture and design as possible careers. \n\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Become a member to attend special events free of charge\, and get Unfold Magazine mailed twice a year.\nMembership starts at just $5/month.\n			\n				Join\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Loading…
URL:https://codesigncollaborative.org/event/student-challenge-2026/
CATEGORIES:Student
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