Snow days are great. But if you ask the students at DesignDash, they might tell you there’s something better: a day spent turning ideas into prototypes with a group of strangers who quickly feel like co-workers.

This year, the event added a new, “let’s build it” component. Beyond the ideas and posters, teams were asked to create a physical prototype, pushing every student into an all hands on deck process.

That stood out to Colby, a student at Denver High School.

“Building a prototype forced us to put our heads together as a group,” Colby said. “We have an idea, but how are we going to build it? How are we going to build it well enough for it to make sense, and then present in front of people?”

What wasn’t different was the success of DesignDash, a program started in the Spring of 2022 by the University of Iowa’s Jacobson Institute and supported by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC). DesignDash is a startup event where high school students across Iowa team up to build a business in a day, with mentorship from community partners and Iowa educators. 

(Did you know DesignDash was held in Portugal from March 6-14? To learn more, click HERE.)

The most recent DesignDash was held March 26 at the Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids and included students 79 from 14 schools. Students represented Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Denver, Dyersville Beckman, Grundy Center, Isaac Newton Christian Academy, Iowa Valley, Linn-Mar, Marion, Midland, Roland-Story, West Delaware, and Williamsburg. 

That hands-on approach didn’t just change how students worked, it changed how they thought.

For Jade, a student at Cedar Rapids Prairie, the process started with a simple problem she experienced. 

“This morning when I was driving here, my energy drink spilled on my lap,” Jade said, thinking a cup holder in her car would have been nice. “Then our group thought about movie theaters and where do you put your popcorn and snacks? We wanted something relatable.”

From there, her team didn’t just jump to a solution, they asked questions, gathered feedback, and adjusted.

“We asked people what they would want, what we should improve,” Jade said. “Then we created a solution, got feedback, and built our prototype.”

For others, the experience was just as much about stepping outside their comfort zone as it was building something new.

“I’m a really creative person, but I struggle to branch out,” said Kayle from Grundy Center. “This was a good chance to do that.”

Working with new teammates encouraged that growth.

“You’re with people you don’t know, and you’re all brainstorming together,” she said. “It’s been a great day.”

And while the work was real, so was the energy.

“It was so much fun, better than school, I’m going to be honest,” said Toni from Roland-Story.

Between brainstorming and building, the day struck a balance that doesn’t often happen in a classroom. In large part, that balance was driven by building the prototype.

“It allowed everyone to be actively doing something the whole time,” said Teresa, a student from Grundy Center. “You get to collaborate, be creative, and meet new people. It was fun.”

And maybe that’s the difference. DesignDash gave students something to build and it still felt like a day off.

DesignDash will be held in Ottumwa on Thursday, April 23 and in Sioux City on Thursday, April 30.