This design challenge encourages students to move quickly through the process of design, testing, and redesign.  It is creative, hands-on, and involves a lot of teamwork and iteration, along with problem solving and time-management.

The Challenge:

Students are divided into pairs or teams to design a cardboard chair.  In larger groups, it may be helpful to have one person on each team in charge of documenting the group’s building process.

Parameters for the Chair:

• Must be at least 18 inches tall
• Must support a person at least 18 inches off the ground.
• Must support a person of at least 130 lbs.
• May only use cardboard and brads.
• Cannot use an assembled box — all the boxes must be altered in some way.