Consider This
For this challenge, you will invent something that will make someone else’s life better. It could be a tool, device, machine, etc. that helps someone somewhere with something! A good inventor understands who their invention is for and what challenge or problem it solves. Understanding who you are helping with your invention is called Empathy. Empathy is the first step in the creative problem solving process, and is key to creating a successful product.
Welcome to Flux’s Online STEAM Challenges – Season 2!
We’re excited to have you back for another season of innovation, creativity, and hands-on learning. Get ready to explore, build, and invent in fun weekly challenges designed to stretch your imagination and sharpen your problem-solving skills.
How It Works
- New Challenge Every Monday
Each Monday morning, we’ll post a new STEAM challenge.
You’ll have the entire week to tinker, invent, and create a solution or product. - Submit by Sunday at 8 PM (ET)
Entries are due by Sunday evening. Make sure to submit your final idea on time! - How to Enter
Submit a short video (1–1.5 minutes) explaining:- Who your user is
- What problem they face
- What you invented
- How it works
- Any feedback or improvements
#FluxToSTEAM1.
Challenge 1: Invent to Help Someone
Your mission:
Create something that improves someone else’s life.
Think simple! The best inventions often solve everyday problems in clever, unexpected ways.
Use Design Thinking
Stuck on where to start? Try the Design Thinking process to guide your project:
- Empathize – Understand your user’s needs. What challenges do they face?
- Define – Clearly identify the problem your invention will solve.
- Ideate – Brainstorm creative solutions.
- Prototype – Build a simple model of your idea (it doesn’t need to be perfect!).
- Test – Get feedback and see how well your invention works.
Need Inspiration?
Visit sharpen.design – a STEM prompt generator that gives you creative challenges to get your ideas flowing. Set your parameters and get randomized prompts to jumpstart your invention.
For Educators
We’ve partnered with Sharpen.Design to provide a Student Guide and other resources on prototyping and design thinking. These are available on our website to support your students through the challenge.
Quick Recap
- Challenge: Invent something that improves someone else’s life
- Submit: 1–1.5 minute video
- Include: Your user, the problem, your invention, how it works, feedback
- Tag us and use:
#FluxToSTEAM1 - Deadline: Sunday by 8 PM ET
We can’t wait to see what you invent. Good luck — and have fun creating!
Key Terms
brainstorm: (noun) a way to form ideas
ideation: (noun) the formation of ideas or concepts
empathy: (noun) the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
innovation: (noun) the process of changing something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products.
Project Examples
Have a solution to this challenge you want to share? Take a photo or video of your prototype, post it on social media, and don’t forget to tag us @fluxspace_io
