2025 Design Thinking Challenge registration is open!
About the Challenge
The Design Thinking Challenge is a fun, inclusive and engaging way for students in grades 4 to 8, to learn about creating products or services using the design thinking process. See link here for past events.
Competition Locations
Competition Dates
Australia:
VIC, 2025 TBC
WA, 2025 TBC
What is Design Thinking?
Where problem solving is focused on solving a pre-defined problem, design thinking requires students to define their own problems to solve first.
Watch the video to hear Sarah Kaur, Design Thinking Practitioner at CSIRO explain what design thinking is!
How it Works
Teams build their project during term 1, 2 or 3 and present it at a fun event in October.
We kick start your team with rubrics, simple templates, and inspiration videos from experts and students.
The project can be an app, service or product (or a combination of them all) that solves a problem based on a new theme each year.
You can use any existing software of tools to build your that your school is familiar with, or we can help you learn new ones. Just ask us how!
See last years theme here!
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Contact us at info@designthinkingchallenge.com to learn about how we could run incursions or teacher and student training at your school.
Click here to see past events
Click here to see past events
Entry Fees
All schools qualify for an entry fee rebate for the first two years of joining the competition, from 2024 onwards.
For example, if your school enters one team, after the rebate you only pay $90 the first year, and $190 if you join a second year.
If you entered 10 teams, you could use the unlimited team option and only pay $490 f0r all teams in the first year, and $990 the second after rebates.
100% of entry fees go towards running the competition and funding a growing prize pool for teams and schools!
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
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Testimonials
Emily Choo STEM Lead and Teacher, Mount Waverly Primary School
The Design Thinking Challenge has been invaluable in encouraging students to think differently about how to address a real-world problem using the steps of the Design Thinking process. Dion has been a constant support to the staff and students involved, generously lending his time and efforts with palpable enthusiasm. As a school new to the challenge, we highly recommend and encourage schools to participate in this transformative experience. Dion and the team at AI3 Cubed have not only provided guidance but also fostered an environment of creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration that has truly enriched our educational journey. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them and are excited about the positive impact our students will make in the future, thanks to this incredible opportunity.23/10/2023
Peter McClure Teacher, Glen Iris Primary School
I highly recommend participating in the Design Thinking Challenge. The competition provides students with a unique opportunity to enhance their problem-solving skills. The competition allows students to explore technology and to engage with experts in the field. Students work in teams to solve real life problems and create solutions using ICT. The team at AI Cubed are kind, supportive and very friendly. Dion visited our school on a number of occasions to support our students during the process and guide them along their journey. The kids looked forward to his arrival and gained valuable information from his support.25/01/2023
Kalina Krawczyk Head of Corporate Stakeholder and Industry Partnerships, Department of Transport
Thanks for running this amazing program and really inspiring change at a grass roots level for our future leaders, creators and innovators.I am always blown away with what your program achieves, and I was just filled with hope seeing such quality, interest, excitement and passion from the teams!The presentations from these year 5 and 6 groups were outstanding and their understanding of design thinking, climate challenges and renewable energy opportunities would definitely give the corporate innovation space a well-deserved run for its money! Some coding for only 4 or 6 weeks!02/11/2023
Meet the Organisers
Dion Stojsavljevic
FOUNDER, DESIGN THINKING CHALLENGE
CO-FOUNDER & VICE PRINCIPAL, AI CUBED
Over the last 20+ years, Dion has held senior roles at two of the worlds most innovative tech companies, Intel and Microsoft.
From marketing, sales, global partner management, logistics and strategy, Dion's career is centered on building strong relationships and creative problem-solving.
Dion has a wealth of teaching experience, lecturing and creating course content for TAFE in the 1990's, teaching hands on maths at over 75 primary and secondary schools, along with years of mentoring and volunteer work.
Dion loves travel, music, fast cars and basketball, but most of all loves telling cringey dad jokes to his three amazing children. Find me on LinkedIn here
From marketing, sales, global partner management, logistics and strategy, Dion's career is centered on building strong relationships and creative problem-solving.
Dion has a wealth of teaching experience, lecturing and creating course content for TAFE in the 1990's, teaching hands on maths at over 75 primary and secondary schools, along with years of mentoring and volunteer work.
Dion loves travel, music, fast cars and basketball, but most of all loves telling cringey dad jokes to his three amazing children. Find me on LinkedIn here
Charlie Cheng
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, AI CUBED
Charlies interests have always been product innovation and high performance coaching, having led and coached multiple international development teams. While at innovation giants like Effective Measure and TIC Group, his product innovations have helped businesses grow globally.
His coaching has led students into leadership positions at well respected companies. Since 2018 his passion has been tech education for children and he has many accolades. From first coaching a student team to silver at 2019 RoboCup state championships, Charlie has taken teams and students to many finals in robotics, coding and maths competitions around the globe.
Charlie loves the outdoors, photography and family. He treasures nothing more than spending time with his wife, two energetic kids, even more energetic dog and not so energetic cat!
His coaching has led students into leadership positions at well respected companies. Since 2018 his passion has been tech education for children and he has many accolades. From first coaching a student team to silver at 2019 RoboCup state championships, Charlie has taken teams and students to many finals in robotics, coding and maths competitions around the globe.
Charlie loves the outdoors, photography and family. He treasures nothing more than spending time with his wife, two energetic kids, even more energetic dog and not so energetic cat!
Steven Payne
FOUNDER, STAND OUT EDUCATION
Steven worked as a maths teacher for many years in the UK. He then moved to Western Australia and for the past ten years has worked in roles supporting schools.
He provides training and consultancy on Microsoft 365, coding, physical computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) - all the things that help bring digital technologies into the classroom to enhance learning and teaching.Steven also works with the global Minecraft Education team, running engaging workshops for teachers and students; he is always searching for new ways to solve problems and support inclusion using Minecraft.
His favourite Minecraft mob is the chicken.
His favourite number is 11.
The Design Thinking Challenge acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which we live, work, and depend. We acknowledge the unique spiritual and cultural connection, and continuing aspiration that the Traditional Owners have for Country and we pay respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.