This is about the "Let's Build Something (Really) Big Together" Contest at the Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017

1. Let’s Build Something (Really)
Big Together @ Maker Faire
Hong Kong 2017
Dr. Clifford Choy
School of Design, PolyU
mccliff@polyu.edu.hk
8 Oct 2016

2. “Maker Faire HK 2017”
• A project consists of
• Half-day Makers’ Day in 10 different locations in HK
• Maker Faire HK 2017 on 8 and 9 Apr 2017
• Maker projects to selected schools
• Competitions and Exhibitions
• Funded by 150th Anniversary Standard Chartered Community
Foundation

3. Let’s Build Something (Really) Big Together
• A maker project to participating schools, and a contest
• Goal:
• To allow students to collaborate to create something big (and hopefully
REALLY BIG) and creative with simple materials (e.g. cardboard, sticks, pvc
tubes, ropes) and/or construction kits (e.g. StrawBees, MakeDo, Lego,
MegaBlok). These "big things" will be exhibited and/or performed in the
Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017.

4. Requirements (1)
• Team
• Composed of one advisor and students
• For Junior Category, number of students is limited to 10, and their average
age must NOT be above 13
• For Senior Category, number of students is limited to 5, and their average age
must NOT be above 19
• The “big thing” should be ...
• within a volume, having a base area of 3m2 and height of 3m
• made from light-weight materials and properly secured and supported so as
not to create any safety issue in the exhibition area
• designed with consideration of potentially strong wind in the exhibition area
(note that the exhibition area is on the podium level of PolyU campus)

5. Requirements (2)
• Show-and-tell
• A show-and-tell period will be assigned for teams to share their process in
designing and making their “big thing” during the MFHK2017
• Teams are strongly encouraged to supplement with photos and videos on
their process and even physical prototypes
• Performance
• If “big thing” can be performed (e.g. a costume with animating parts), a time
will be scheduled for the performance

6. Certificates and Prizes (1)
• Certificate of Participation
• For each student member of each team who successfully
exhibited/performed their work during MFHK2017
• Most impressive Big Thing (Visitors’ Choice)
• For the “big thing” which is most impressive, as voted by visitors in
MFHK2017
• Certificate for each student member of winning team
• A trophy for the winning team
• Junior Category: Cash Prize HKD2000
• Senior Category: Cash Prize HKD3000

7. Certificates and Prizes (2)
• Most creative Big Thing
• For the “big thing” which is most creative, as determined by judges
• Certificate for each student member of winning team
• A trophy for the winning team
• Junior Category: Cash Prize HKD2000
• Senior Category: Cash Prize HKD3000
• Best “show-and-tell”
• For the team who can best present their design process, from initial ideas to the final “big
thing”
• Certificate for each student member of winning team
• A trophy for the winning team
• Junior Category: Cash Prize HKD2000
• Senior Category: Cash Prize HKD3000

8. Possible ideas: Big Heads
http://www.tested.com/art/makers/461436-maker-faire-2014-we-make-papercraft-big-head-costumes/
http://testroete.com/index.php?location=head
http://www.paper-kit.com/en/

9. Possible ideas: Costumes
Maker Faire Bay Area 2016

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvUQuiNN0Os

11. Possible Ideas: Costumes with
Moving Parts
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-
Minion-Halloween-costume/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-Ironman-Mark-VI-
out-of-makedo-and-cardboard-/
http://www.kit-rex.com/new-page-1/

12. Maker Faire Hong Kong 2015, 28-29 Nov 2015

13. Schedule
Date Tasks (PolyU) Tasks (Participating School)
Feb 2017 – Mar 2017 • Production of ”big thing”
Apr 2017 • Assembly of “big things” in PolyU for
exhibition/performance
8,9 Apr 2017 • Exhibition/performance of “big things”
during MFHK2017
9 Apr 2017 afternoon • Prize presentation ceremony

14. http://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/uk-creative-overview/news-
and-views/view-what-is-design-and-why-it-matters

15. Recommended Process
• Background research
• (desktop) Find out what have been done by others (Internet, magazine, others?)
• (experience) Play with the wooden go-kart, play with other types of vehicles
• (resources) Understand what materials, tools, and technologies are available and accessible; any friends to help?
• Brainstorm
• On what to make
• Explore possible ideas, foci, themes
• Explore materials, tools and technologies
• Actual test, play with them, ….
• Prototype
• Build something
• Evaluate
• Test by yourself and others
• Share what you have learned among each others
• Iterate
• Repeat the above to improve

16. Brainstorming
• Why?
• Generate as many ideas as possible
• How?
• Identify a specific question to answer or problem to solve
• Inform participants some time before brainstorming session for them to think about
it before the session
• During session:
• Focus on quantity
• Withhold criticism
• Welcome unusual ideas
• Build on others’ ideas (combine, improve)
• After session:
• Go through generated ideas, categorize them, and explore possible actions

17. https://imagebox.com/design/human-centered-design-a-
powerful-tool-for-brainstorming/

18. https://youtu.be/9K8W4ooygUU

19. Other References on Brainstorming
• http://scottberkun.com/essays/34-how-to-run-a-brainstorming-
meeting/
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/03/05/4-steps-to-
successful-brainstorming/#74546772388f

20. Reflective Journal
Gray, C. and Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research
Process in Art and Design. England: AshGate Publishing. Pg 58, Fig 2.9

21. Process Log
• Keep track of what you have done in each stage
• References and reflections
• Take many photos, especially on artifacts being created and how you made
them
• Take photos/videos on how prototype works and feedbacks from testers
• Reflect on what you have learned, “what will you next time”, ”what next”
• Keep a blog on the design process
• At least one photo and a few words (no need for complete sentences)
• Share with us

22. Contacts
• Ms Poki Chan
• Email: poki.chan@connect.polyu.hk
• Mr. Victor Cheung
• Email: victorzzt@gmail.com
• Dr. Clifford Choy
• Email: mccliff@polyu.edu.hk

23. Questions?