Innovate for Impact: A Design Thinking Challenge
Innovate for Impact is a regional competition that empowers middle and high school students to tackle real-world community challenges through design thinking. Guided by the PA STEELS Standards, teams develop creative, practical solutions that blend sustainability, technology, and innovation.
Students collaborate with field experts to deepen their understanding and refine their ideas, then partner with media professionals to raise awareness or share their proposed solutions. A variety of media formats—graphic design, photography, videography, programming, and more—help teams amplify their impact through compelling, audience-centered storytelling.
Competition Details:
- Event Dates:
- Community Day: January 13, 2026
- Showcase Day: April 8, 2026
- Event Location: IU13 Training & Conference Center
- Participants: Students in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in the in person competition at IU13.
- Teams may consist of up to 3 students
- 1 team per school
- Cost: No cost
- Registration Begins: November 2025
- Registration Ends: December 22, 2025
What to Expect:
Community Day – January 13, 2026 from 9:00 am – 2:00pm
Kick off the Innovate for Impact journey with a full-day immersive experience in design thinking and community collaboration.
- Highlights:
- Learn the fundamentals of the design thinking process, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
- Engage with local field professionals on topics like sustainability, technology, and innovation.
- Participate in hands-on media and design sessions led by industry experts.
- Receive constructive feedback from mentors and peers to refine your project direction.
- By the end of the day, teams will walk away with:
- A clear project focus
- A toolkit of creative strategies
- A network of support to guide them forward
Showcase Day – April 8, 2026 from 9:00 am – 11:30 am
Celebrate the culmination of your design thinking journey by presenting your final project to the community. Share your work through engaging media formats designed to inspire and inform. Throughout the event, you’ll receive valuable feedback and insights from field experts to help elevate your ideas and celebrate your innovation.
For more information about this academic competition, please email megan_smith@iu13.org or jason_zimmerman@iu13.org. Thank you.