The LA28 Olympic Design Competition is a local design competition I am managing with the HU3 Collective and Pelican Fly, LLC, through its brand 3DPenParty.com that is now in the planning stages for a scheduled Fall 2024 launch. The competition is aimed at public, private, and homeschooled grade school children to harnesses their creativity and skills to address housing solutions through a dynamic use of 3D pens, 3D printing, and entry-level robotics. This competition not only engages students in hands-on learning but also ties their efforts to a high-profile event—the LA 2028 Summer Olympics.
Objective: The competition aims to inspire and involve young minds in solving real-world housing challenges through a multi-year, educational design process. By focusing on diverse cultural traditions and housing needs, students will create innovative, low-cost housing solutions using 3D pens and clean energy technologies. The culmination of their efforts will be a showcase during the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, with a demonstration village that highlights the best of their designs.
Program Structure:
- Year 1 – Design Thinking and 3D Modeling:
- Exploration: Students begin with a deep dive into design thinking, exploring the diverse cultural and traditional influences present in Los Angeles. They will engage with community leaders, cultural experts, and local historians to understand various housing needs and preferences.
- Skills Development: Through workshops, students will learn to use 3D pens to model their housing concepts and incorporate clean energy solutions such as solar power, energy-efficient lighting, and smart systems into their designs.
- Evaluation: Designs will be assessed based on creativity, feasibility, and integration of clean energy solutions.
- Year 2 – Team Competitions and Advanced Design:
- Team Collaboration: Students form teams to refine their initial designs and tackle specialized categories, including housing for physical disabilities, modular units, desert or water-based shelters, and temporary homelessness solutions.
- Community Building: Teams will work on community-focused aspects of their designs, considering how their solutions can foster social interaction and support within various communities.
- Selection: Winning designs will be chosen based on innovation, community impact, and technical execution.
- Year 3 – Prototype Development and Demonstration:
- Prototype Construction: Selected designs will be developed into full-scale prototypes, showcasing the students’ solutions in a real-world context.
- Demonstration Village: A demonstration village will be created as part of the LA 2028 Summer Olympics. The village will feature the best student designs and serve as a residence for Olympic athletes, emphasizing sustainability, functionality, and cultural diversity.
- Exposure: The village will receive media attention and corporate support, highlighting the students’ contributions and showcasing innovative solutions on a global stage.
Expansion and Impact: The Olympic Design Competition will significantly impact students by fostering skills in design thinking, 3D modeling, clean energy technologies, and teamwork. By engaging in this competition, students will gain practical experience that translates into valuable 21st-century job skills. The project will also strengthen community ties, break down language barriers, and provide a platform for diverse cultural expressions through innovative housing solutions.
Support and Collaboration: The project will seek support from LAUSD officials, the LA Mayor’s Office, the US Olympic Committee, and various corporate and media partners. By creating a high-profile, culturally inclusive competition, the project will generate excitement and engagement from students, families, and the broader community, culminating in a lasting legacy during the LA 2028 Summer Olympics.