My team has been chosen as a finalist to present in-person at the conference. What are the specific requirements of my team?
You and your team will provide a 10 minute presentation of your design, provide a demonstration of your prototype (if available), and participate in a Q & A session about the details of your project during a live judging event.  After the conclusion of the formal event, judges will enter a closed session during which they will deliberate on the finalist projects and presentations.  The top three winners will be announced at the RESNA Awards Ceremony.

Should I bring my design with me to the conference? 
Yes! It is always beneficial to bring your physical product for a live demonstration.

If my team has been selected as a finalist to present, how many team members may present?
RESNA will provide funding for two team members to attend the conference. Other team members are welcome to attend, but they will need to pay for their own conference registration and travel expenses. 

Since uploading our design brief, we have worked more on the project and have improved the design. Would it be recommended that we show the new content in the final presentation?
You are allowed to and encouraged to present on any updates you have made since your initial design submission.

Regarding content:

• Each finalist team is allowed to and encouraged to present on any updates you have made to your project since the original submission. The overall idea is to cover the contents of your submitted Design Brief and focus on areas that may highlight why your design is: innovative, adaptive, accessible, beneficial, and unlike available designs.
  • Historically, judges like to know that market research has been done by the team and that the team is able to defend why the submitted design is different from the current products on the market. It is also beneficial to show any user testing done – the judges always love seeing that the team is remembering to design for the people they are serving each step of the way. 

Would the students own the rights to the design?  For example, if a company shows interest in the design as a real product, are the students contacted about that interest?  How are the students' designs protected?  Have any of the previous competition winners experienced companies wanting to advance their idea?
SDC teams retain ownership of their design rights.  Submission of a project does not transfer ownership to RESNA or the SDC.  Please seek legal counsel for answers to specific questions about submission of patents or ways to protect your ideas. In the past, we have had teams who have asked that the design details submitted be limited to SDC judges and not disclosed publicly. If ownership is a concern for your team, it is recommended that you speak with the legal/tech transfer office at your university. Any negotiations with an interested product development company should occur between the student team and company – these conversations will have no influence on the SDC.

Have any of the previous competition winners been approached by companies wanting to advance their idea?

Yes.  Previous SDC winners and student design challenge teams have gone on to commercially produce their product. 

We are planning on entering the SDC and would like to know if the design briefs will be published, or if they will only be shared with the judges. In other words, will we be disclosing our IP by entering the competition? 
SDC judges will have access to all information submitted about individual projects.  If IP disclosure is of concern, RESNA can limit the details shared in your submission if you make this request in writing. Your team is responsible for communicating with RESNA and outlining what information is confidential.  Please note that if your project is chosen as one of the finalists, you will be asked to present your project details live and the project information disclosed at that time will be shared on our website and in press releases.  If you are a finalist team and have IP disclosure concerns, please make appropriate adjustments to the final stage presentation.

For teams with IP disclosure concerns, will the team have the opportunity to cater that open-audience “public” presentation such that it is non-disclosing if they are selected? 
Yes.  You are not required to share any specific information during the competition.  Finalist teams can use discretion when deciding what and how much detail is shared about your project. Please keep in mind, however, if the internal components are the innovative aspects that “wow” the judges resulting in your selection as a finalist, choosing to not disclose that information could impact your final ranking. 

If my team has IP disclosure concerns, would we be able to hide internal components of our design if we are selected as finalists to present and focus on what the design can do rather than how it works? In other words, could we show a demonstration with the inner workings of the device hidden?
Yes, you are allowed to choose what and how much you share regarding your project at the final public presentation. Please keep in mind, if the internal components are the innovative aspects that will “wow” the judges that get you to the final stages, choosing to not disclose that information could reflect on your judging but you are not required to share any specific information. That is left to your team’s discretion. 

Is this an International competition?
Yes, this is an international competition. The SDC is open to students from all over the world. 

Is there anywhere we may be able to view example presentations from past designs?
Yes, you can find past projects here.

Below are some pointers leading up to your final judging for SDC finalists:

• Submission tips & advice:
  • Historically, the SDC judges have prioritized these aspects of a submission:
    • Has the team has tested their product with an end user, or have they received end-user feedback?
    • Has market research been completed?
  • Submissions will be judged on the following areas:
    • Accessibility: is it AT? Accessibility for target demographic, accessibility for non-target demographic with or without disabilities, “one-off” solution vs. universal solution
    • Innovation: novel, unlike available designs, new problems addressed, familiar problems addressed in new & better ways
    • Design & Technicality: number of engineering concepts addresses, form factor of product, aesthetics, intentional simplicity, complex not pretty design vs. simple sleek functional design
    • User-centric: user testing, safety, durability, multi-disciplinary approach to problem
    • Relevance & Impact: is it AT? Is it needed? Cool design vs. beneficial design
    • Market Value: comparison to existing commercial options, market research, future plans
• Slide deck:
  • You will receive correspondence from RESNA’s office regarding how to submit the slide deck for your presentation. The slide deck will then be shared with the judges in advance of your presentation. 
•  Live judging helpful tips & advice:
  • You are allowed to and encouraged to present on any updates you have made since your initial design submission.
  • Think ahead: you may be asked about future plans for your project.
  • The overall idea is to cover the contents of your submitted Design Brief.
  • Focus on areas that may highlight why your design is: innovative, adaptive, accessible, beneficial, and unlike available designs.
  • Judges like to know that market research has been done, so please be prepare to defend why the submitted design is different from the current products on the market.
  • It is always beneficial to show any user testing: it is crucial that you, as the design team, is remembering to design for the people you are serving each step of the way.
  • It is always beneficial to have a physical product or device to demo at the live judging.

Please contact the RESNA office at info@resna.org with any other questions regarding the SDC.