Design Challenge Network

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Design Challenge Network

Empowering students and teachers through Design Challenges.

08/05/2026

Students learn best when they’re solving real problems that matter.

That’s why we created the Design Challenge Network - a space where educators, students, and industry partners come together to design meaningful learning experiences.

From classrooms in New Hampshire and New England to anywhere a teacher wants to innovate, our mission is simple: Make learning relevant, authentic, and real.

Follow us to stay connected to:
• Student-led design challenge stories
• Regional + school-based challenge updates
• PBL tools and professional development

08/04/2026

What makes Design Challenge Network so different?

For Doug Smith, one of our CCC judges from Kennebunk Savings, the answer was clear: the incredible level of support and resources DCN provides to both educators and students throughout the entire experience.

Then there's Annabelle.

She says participating in the Community Changemaker Challenge "launched me into a whole different way of thinking," changing not only how she approached challenges, but her attitude toward learning itself.

When educators are equipped with the right support, students are given the chance to grow in ways they didn’t know were possible.

This fall, bring that same experience to your classroom. With DCN by your side, you'll have the resources, guidance, and community to help your students tackle real-world challenges with confidence.

Ready to get started? Go to designchallengenetwork.org!

07/31/2026

Sometimes the biggest takeaway has nothing to do with who wins...

After judging our recent Community Changemaker Challenge, Tania, Deputy Director of Gather, shared her thoughts on the experience:

"The teams I found myself scoring the highest were usually the ones where everyone seemed genuinely engaged, listening to one another, building off each other’s strengths, and figuring things out collaboratively."

Her insight really shows what Design Challenge Network’s mission is all about.

Yes, students learn how to develop innovative solutions to problems they care about. But just as importantly, they learn how to collaborate, communicate, think critically, and lead with empathy. These are the skills that matter long after the challenge ends and are essential in the real world.

When students leave our programs, we hope they take away more than an incredible prototype. We hope they leave with the confidence to tackle future challenges, the ability to work alongside others, and the belief that they can make a positive impact wherever life takes them.

A huge thank you to Tania and all of our volunteer judges for helping inspire the next generation of changemakers.

Interested in Design Challenge Network? Go to designchallengenetwork.org to learn more!

07/23/2026

Sometimes, the best measure of a student's growth comes from the people who know them best.

A parent of one of this year's Community Changemaker Challenge participants told us:

💬 "It was great seeing our student build their self-confidence and demonstrate leadership, creativity, and problem-solving."

This is why authentic, real-world learning matters.

When students are challenged to solve problems they care about, they don't just sharpen their academic skills. They build confidence, discover their strengths, and learn to lead.

Click the link in our bio to see how you can bring DCN into your classroom this fall!

07/16/2026

Take a look at what a participating student said about her experience at our Community Changemaker Challenge!

07/14/2026

A Governor’s Academy senior stepped into the role of filmmaker and delivered a project worthy of the big screen—literally. Through the Community Changemaker Challenge, he blended his passions for solving real‑world problems and creating films and that smile says everything about what problem-based learning can unlock.

If you’re interested in learning more about Design Challenge Network, click the link in our bio or go to Designchallengenetwork.org!

07/07/2026

We would like to take a moment to thank our generous sponsors:

Kennebunk Savings, Coast of Maine, Revision Energy, Launch Now, Nathan Wechsler Accountants & Business Advisors, Rath Law, Fox Point Oysters, Nemo Equipment, Apparel Impact, and The UNH Sustainability Institute.

Because you, teachers can empower their students to grow into the confident changemakers who will turn the world around. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Thank you!

Interested in DCN?
Click our link in bio to learn more!

07/01/2026

Your DCN roadmap straight from our Playbook:

1. Team Development — Students build collaboration, leadership, and teamwork skills.

2. Problem Pitch — Students explore real‑world issues and choose challenges they care about. Students then pitch their ideas and form teams around shared passions.

3. Empathy Problem Definition — Teams research, build empathy, and write their first problem statement and aspirational question.

4. Finalize Problem — Teams present their findings and get feedback to sharpen their understanding. They then finalize their problem and lock in their refined problem statement and aspirational question.

5. Research — Students study existing solutions and uncover opportunities for innovation.

6. Prototype & Feedback — Teams create prototypes, share them, and gather feedback.

7. Testing & Revision — They refine and strengthen their solution based on what they learned.

8. Present and Reflect — Teams showcase their solution and answer live questions from judges at the Community Changemaker Challenge. Students then look back on their growth, learning, and leadership journey.

This is the DCN experience — a full arc of creativity, empathy, innovation, and real‑world impact.

To learn more and bring DCN into your classroom this Fall, click our link in bio!

06/23/2026

When students are given the opportunity to both learn and make something they are passionate about, everything changes.

Click our link in bio to see how you can get DCN into your classroom this fall!

Address

Portsmouth, NH

Website

https://www.designchallengenetwork.org/, https://linktr.ee/designchallengenetwork

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