Design Challenge Prizes - What Do You Want?

For those of you who have applied to compete in a Design Challenge at element14 Community what prizes did you feel motivated you the most to sign up? If you haven't applied, what prizes would motivate you the most to sign up and compete? What prizes would you like to see that haven't been offered yet? Does a goodie bag of products get you motivated? How about a chance to meet and spend a day with your electronics engineering "celebrity" or maybe mentoring sessions from an industry expert?

Please share your thoughts below to help us make prizes better for future Design Challenges. (cc: Members Top Members RoadTests & Reviews element14Dave)

Thanks!

Top Replies

iayanpahwa over 10 years ago

How about a drone? Just kidding! Well in my opinion design challenge really requires devoting alot of time. Its my first and being student I know how difficult is to copw with studies and making stuff so for me a grear motivation would be completion prize for everybody who competed that would act as certification of appreciation and top 3 prizes instead of just a grand prize :)
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balearicdynamics over 10 years ago in reply to iayanpahwa

Sure a drone or 3D printer are really attracting. I am the first to vote but thinking in a more community view, maybe these prices are a bit selective; there is only a part of users interested to drones for experimenting (I am actively working on this side by years) and 3D printers are already almost diffused - as far as what I read in comments - between users (I don't have and I'd like to have one )

Enrico
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ravi_butani over 10 years ago

If the design challenge is around arduino than dinner with Massimo Banzi and capture a selfie with him is the greatest prize I think..
Same way the dinner with Eben Upton will be greatest prize for me if the challenge is around raspberry pi...
And I don't think there is any better inspiration for me than these Prize...
Looking forward to know what other thinks about this....
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago

How about something like this?

http://www.adafruit.com/category/70
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fvan over 10 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Could be one of those "project completion" freebies.
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crjeder over 10 years ago

I agree with most of what the other members said. I entered the Enchanted Object Challenge not for the Grand Price - chances that I win it are negligible. I am doing it for fun and to learn. I need the challenge to keep myself focused. My other hobby projects all share the same fate: before I finish it I got distracted by something else. I enjoy the format of weekly blogging (which helps to keep me on track) and the helpful community. And my price would be a lot of fun and new knowledge.
The main entry barrier for a challenge is the amount of time you have to spend on it. I personally spend almost every minute of my spare time, which is a huge commitment and the reason why I most likely won't enter an other one this year no matter what the price will be.
Maybe smaller challenges would be a good idea. Along the line is Chris Stanton with his geo-caching project. Less work for the individual more fun for every one. So I am proposing something like monthly (mini) challenges and quarterly grand challenges. The monthly challenges could replace road tests since they are often "unpacking the kit", "installing provided demos", "play with the demos" and give a score. Having 10 similar tests for one product is not very effective IMHO.
Back to the prices. One for the top 3 and a small one for every finisher sounds like a good idea to me. Prices like trips to events, "maker equipment" (3D Printer, CNC Mill, Laser Cutter, Oscilloscope, ...) and vouchers for electronic components are good choices.
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crjeder over 10 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Yes, those (physical) badges are a good idea (but I'd like them to be made of magnetic foil instead) and badges here in the community are also good.
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balearicdynamics over 10 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

Andy, too commercial these ones. Anyone can simply buy it and expose it Naaaaa

I remember when Qt was shipping badges (physical) ... You can find these nowhere else.
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crjeder over 10 years ago in reply to fvan

I think they could be a "finisher" price.
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crjeder over 10 years ago

... and a FIR camera:
870 - TESTO - WÄRMEBILDKAMERA TESTO 870-1 | Deutschland
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