Improve the Student Experience and Win Cash!

Northwestern undergraduates of all majors are invited to compete in the Big Ten Student Design Challenge. Win $2000, network with industry professionals, and remake a space on the Evanston campus. This competition is hosted by the Big Ten Academic Alliance in partnership with Herman Miller, the office furniture manufacturing company. 

Interested? Join us for a design workshop on Monday, November 19, at 4:30 p.m. in Project Room A located in University Library 1 South (the location chosen for the challenge).  

Contest Details

Here’s how it works:

  • Northwestern has chosen an informal space to be re-furnished -- Project Room A located in University Library 1 South -- and is now accepting designs from student teams. Students will need to complete a proposal template using the Herman Miller Custom Catalog available on the contest website
  • The best proposal will be judged in a national competition and the top three teams win a trip to Herman Miller headquarters. Over the course of two days, teams will refine their proposals with help from industry professionals and pitch their ideas to a panel of design experts. 
  • One winning team will receive a $2,000 cash prize and their proposal will be funded and built.
  • Competing teams must consist of 3-4 student members. Submissions are due by November 27th, 2018.

Visit the Big Ten Student Design Challenge website for the full contest details and submission form.  

The Proposed Space

Project Room A in the University Library 1 South was selected based on the high-profile nature of the location and open access to the community. The goal is to provide a student-designed location for informal learning that can be easily accessed and used to inform future space and design integrations broadly in our Northwestern learning community.

Location: Main Library – 1 South Tower; 1970 Campus Drive; Evanston IL, 60208

This location is a collaborative workspace in 1 South, the collaborative and learning area in the Main Library. Currently partitioned by glass panels, the space can be re-imagined broadly as part of the competition.

Dimensions: 475 square feet

Visit the Big Ten Student Design Challenge website for the full contest details and submission form.