Make:able 2022 Finalists

Once again, hundreds of teams from around the world have inspired us with unique designs that serve people with disabilities.

Today we're delighted to announce the finalists of the 2022 make:able challenge! For anyone unfamiliar with make:able, it is a free yearly assistive technology design challenge hosted by PrintLab, Autodesk and partners. Going beyond a competition, the make:able design challenge centres around an online challenge toolkit, which takes you through a step-by-step process to design and make an assistive device. Having focused on hand mobility in the 2021 challenge, we made the decision to open up the brief in 2022 so that teams could design a product/prototype that improves the day-to-day life of someone with any disability or the elderly.

Since the submission deadline on May 1st, Team PrintLab have gone through a rigorous process to review video submissions from hundreds of teams around the world. For each category and age group, we have shortlisted between 3 and 6 entries, which will be put in front of an expert panel in June to determine the winners. More information about the judges and judging process will be announced in a separate blog.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the finalists for each category. Please note that some submissions are entered into multiple categories and you'll notice that we have only shown small thumbnail images of the entries. In due course we'll be sharing the full videos - giving you the opportunity to view the entire design processes and inspirational stories.

best inspirational story (under 14)

Addy's Bubble Buddies - Union University Outreach
Team Dakota - Union University Outreach
Luti's Learning Board - Westwood Elementary
Selzer Sight Seekers - Selzer School

best inspirational story (14-18)

Fellowship of the Whale - Raleigh Charter High School
Colleen - Waterloo Central School District
Ribbitters - Union University Outreach
Unpaid Interns - Bellevue Christian School
Cane Valet - Bullis School

best inspirational story (over 18)

Fab Lab El Paso
Motion 360
Biola Engineering - Group 8 - Biola University

best use of autodesk software (under 14)

2B-Group5 - Colegio Arturo Soria
Team Dakota - Union University Outreach
3D Kourampiedes - Exadas
Max-n-Jack - Dumont Public Schools
Selzer Sight Seekers - Selzer School

best use of autodesk software (14-18)

Sato Team 24 - Sato Academy of Math and Science
Team AR - Union University Outreach
Copley Creators - Copley High School
Cane Valet - Bullis School

best use of autodesk software (over 18)

Fab Lab El Paso
CLC Glasgow - University of Glasgow
Dance-on - University of Glasgow

best showcase of customisation (under 14)

2A-Group2 - Colegio Arturo Soria
Addy's Bubble Buddies - Union University Outreach
Luti's Learning Board - Westwood Elementary

best showcase of customisation (14-18)

Sato Team 29 - Sato Academy of Math and Science
Flight Squad - Greencastle Antrim High School
Team AR - Union University Outreach
Team Go Kylie - Creekside Christian Academy

best showcase of customisation (over 18)

Fab Lab El Paso
Dance-on - University of Glasgow
Power Up - Universidad Nacional de Colombia

best open source design (under 14)

Magellan_7B_Team1 - Magellan International School
Envision - Swanson Middle School
Team Eraser - Swanson Middle School
DT 7B - British International School Ho Chi Minh City
WHS Design - Wimbledon High School
S.D. Designs - Southampton Township School

best open source design (14-18)

The Big Cheese - Greencastle Antrim High School
The Gen Gees - Greencastle Antrim High School
Copley Creators - Copley High School
The Magnifying Maestosos - nxtGENSkills India

best open source design (over 18)

Power Up - Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Unattended Stove Alarm - Biola University
Motion 360
Team Oakland City University

best use of 3d printing (under 14)

Team Dakota - Union University Outreach
Team Tinkers - Holy Family School of Redwood City
Max-n-Jack - Dumont Public Schools
Selzer Sight Seekers - Selzer School
3D Kourampiedes - Exadas

best use of 3d printing (14-18)

Colleen - Waterloo Central School District
Mist & Fury - Greencastle Antrim High School
Ribbitters - Union University Outreach
Unpaid Interns - Bellevue Christian School
Copley Creators - Copley High School
Cane Valet - Bullis School

best use of 3d printing (over 18)

Motion 360
Dispense.rx - Biola University
Bylinedu - CoderDojo Valencia

best showcase of iterative design (under 14)

The Key Knob - Plymouth South Middle School
Addy's Bubble Buddies - Union University Outreach
Luti's Learning Board - Westwood Elementary
M. M. A. Engineering & Design - Southampton Township School
5th Grade at OVS - Orwell Village School

best showcase of iterative design (14-18)

Fellowship of the Whale - Raleigh Charter High School
Team Noah - Bellevue Christian School
Natorsaurus - Bellevue Christian School
Unpaid Interns - Bellevue Christian School
Wheelatch - Bullis School

best showcase of iterative design (over 18)

Pill Pals - Biola University
Biola Engineering - Group 8 - Biola University
Fab Lab El Paso

thank you

A big thank you to all educators and participants! The quality of work from the make:able challenge truly amazes and inspires us. For an overview of the prizes, head here and keep an eye out for the next announcement, which will provide details on the judging panel and process. Finally, don't forget to follow us on Twitter for regular updates!

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