10-Hour
Safe Child Design Sprint
Safeguarding children through disasters
Friday October 2, 2026
FSU Students working with the community to design a better future
Note: Imagery here sets the design elements of all associated promotional materials including t-shirts.
Sponsored by:
EVENT INFORMATION
Friday, Oct 2, 8AM - 6PM
Calling all FSU students!
Apply your unique talents to solving real-world challenges!
TEN interdisciplinary teams of five compete for a chance to win prizes and have an impact!
A great opportunity to make new connections, gain skills and experience, and make a difference in the world!!
Up to $2000 in prizes!
Three meals included!
Free event t-shirts & giveaways for all participants!
TENTATIVE AGENDA
FRIDAY, OCT 2
8:00 Check-in Continental Breakfast
8:30 Welcome, Introductions, Design Thinking Overview, Challenge Reveal
8:45 Expert Presentation - laying the groundwork
9:15 Expert Panel Discussion + Q&A
10:15 Strategy Workshop 1: Team Branding / Teams Announced - 8 interdisciplinary teams of 5-6 students
10:30 Teaming
10:45 Strategy Workshop 2: Empathy Research and Problem Reframing
11:00 Team Work: Empathy Research and Framing, Discover pain points and opportunities to innovate, Experts available for consultation
12:00 Strategy Workshop 3: Ideation & PR/FAQ
12:15 Working Lunch: Ideation
2:00 Press Release and FAQ due
Strategy Workshop 4: Prototyping and Pitching
2:15 Team Work: Develop Prototyping and Pitch
4:15 Pitches Due / Team Photos
4:30 Pitch Presentations Begin, Format: 4 minutes, 6 slides maximum, Q&A: 3 minutes
5:30 Awards Ceremony & Wrap up
6:00 Conclude
WHO SHOULD SIGN UP?
This event is open to students from all majors!
Sign up as an individual or with friends!
Coding and programming skills NOT required!
Only 48 seats available!
THE CHALLENGE
The specific challenge is typically revealed at the beginning of the event in order to build anticipation.
How might we minimize the impact of devastating natural and societal disasters on children to reduce trauma and the disruption to their lives.
YOUR MISSION
Working in an interdisciplinary team, using Design Thinking and the support of experts, develop a solution to an area of the challenge that is impactful and feasible.
Pitch your solution for a chance to win prizes.
Do all of this within the 24-hour time frame.
Solutions may be physical inventions, apps, services, systems, or a combination of these.
This challenge will require skills from many disciplines and majors:
Social Work
Emergency Management
Psychology
Nursing
Medicine
Social Sciences
Business and Entrepreneurship
Communications and Digital Media
Humanities
The Arts
Engineering
Computing and Technology
Science, Meteorology and Math
SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
The below resources are provided to support research on this topic before and during the event.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children
Margarita Amado-Blanco
Ellen Piekalkiewicz
Savannah Smith
Elite DNA
See schedule here.
Innovation Hub
Ken Baldauf
Wes Dorce
Judges
JUDGING CRITERIA
Innovative Creativity - 25 points
How creative is this idea? Is it something anyone could have thought of? A low score indicates someone probably already did this. A high score is earned by a NEW highly imaginative and creative solution.
Impact - 25 points
How useful will the solution be at addressing the challenge? A low score indicates that, even though the idea may be innovative, it probably won't have much effect on the problem. A high score is earned by a solution that fully addresses a problem.
Feasibility - 25 points
Will your solution be easy to implement? Or will it be costly and require a lot of effort? A low score indicates that, no matter how innovative and impactful the solution, it will be impossible to implement. A high score is earned by a solution that can be implemented with little to no effort.
Prototype and Pitch - 25 points
How effective was the prototype and presentation in selling the solution? Did it demonstrate exactly how the solution will be executed and experienced? Did it illustrate the use of Design Thinking? A low score indicates that the prototype was not compelling, and/or there were significant problems with the presentation. A high score is earned by a very persuasive presentation that engages the audience, tells a compelling story, and effectively demonstrates the effectiveness of the solution.
TEAM PRESENTATIONS
Links to team pitch decks are provided below after the conclusion of the event for archival purpose.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Ken Baldauf, FSU Innovation Hub
Ellen Piekalkiewicz, Director, CFC Center
Margarita Amado-Blanco, FSU Social Work
Savannah Smith, FSU Social Work
Brittney Pieper, FSU Career Center
Tori Andrews, FSU Career Center