Written by I love watching how student competitions play out – and seeing what they can offer to those embarking on their careers in their chosen sectors. They encourage innovation, competition and, more often than not, students are afforded an opportunity to showcase their skills to future employers.
I believe they play a crucial role in upskilling by providing a structured and engaging environment which encourages participants to develop and demonstrate real-world skills. Often focused on industry-relevant challenges, they allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems.
I might be biased but I’m particularly proud of the annual Designathon organised by our team at KnowledgePoint as part of our work with Autodesk.
It is designed to help students develop critical digital skills for the manufacturing industry. Based around Autodesk Fusion, it serves a dual purpose: equipping students with key design and collaboration skills and giving them an opportunity to showcase their abilities in a competitive, real-world challenge.
We encourage entries to the two-day online event from students at tertiary-level institutions from around the world.
- The first day involves hands-on training on Autodesk Fusion, where participants learn essential skills like 3D modelling, parametric design, and rendering.
- The second day puts these skills to the test in a team-based challenge where participants respond to a topical industrial design problem. The competition emphasises originality, creativity, and model integrity, with prizes for the top teams.
More broadly, the Designathon aims to address the growing digital skills gap in manufacturing, particularly as the industry adapts to digital technologies. By boosting digital literacy and fostering collaboration, it plays a role in preparing the next generation of industrial designers and engineers for the factories of the future.
Participants talk about greater confidence in using digital tools as well as increased readiness for further learning and roles in the manufacturing sector.
As we gear up for Designathon 2025, I reflect on last year’s competition.
Designathon 2024: Designing a Green Tomorrow involved teams of industrial design and engineering students learning and competing during the two -day online event. They learnt how smart design can play a part in the transition towards a more sustainable future.
Team ROBOHOLICS from Estonia won for their concept for a waste collection vehicle which could operate both on land and in the sea. The first-year students from TTK UAS (University of Applied Sciences) saw off competition from more than 100 students teams representing 29 institutions.
Sander Siigur, Hanno-Laur Kunnus and Mihhail Bõstrov, electrical engineering students, said:
“A first place award in an international event like the Designathon will definitely look good on an engineering CV.”
Team MECHANICALMEN representing Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, second-year mechanical engineering students, Olalere Glory Oluwadamilare and Nwachukwu Praise, placed second in Designathon 2024:
“Being recognised as a Designathon 2024 winner is a tremendous honour that will significantly enhance our portfolios, propel our careers forward, and serve as a testament to our creative potential. This achievement will empower us to showcase my innovative ideas on a global stage, demonstrating my capabilities and passion for design to a wider audience.”
Team DESAIGN, mechanical engineering students, Ahmet Akçadırcı and İbrahim Berat Ertuğrul, from Yildiz Technical University, Türkiye, were third in the two-day Designathon:
“We wanted to challenge ourselves and compete with others. It was both instructive and entertaining for since the project has mechanical and designing sides. It was good to learn about Fusion and about working with a group. And it taught us about the importance of patience, communication and project management.”
Designathon 2025 is open for entries
Designathon 2025 is an online event which combines learning with competition. Students will boost their Autodesk Fusion skills as well as compete for prizes against other student teams. They will be asked to respond to a topical green design challenge.
To register a team for the Designathon on 27-28 June 2025, students should visit the registration page:
Tomas Karlsson is the sr manager of channel services at KnowledgePoint. This means he oversees the management of outsourced extended enterprise learning programmes, recruiting, and supporting global network of training providers on behalf of organisations, including Autodesk.