DesignQuest: Arts and Innovation Challenge for Teens
Empower Trip and Teen Arts NJ Partnership
Empower Trip has partnered with Teen Arts NJ and is excited to announce DesignQuest, a challenge for middle and high school students grades six thru twelve that focuses on societal solutions through art and design, and offers cash prizes to winners. The purpose of the challenge is to foster innovation by harnessing the creative potential of student artists and designers. Students will use their artistic and design talents to address some of our time’s most pressing societal challenges. By fostering the social-emotional and environmentally-conscious aspects and empowering learners to become advocates for a more sustainable and equitable future, it offers the opportunity to inspire action, spark conversations, and drive positive change in local communities and beyond. Official DesignQuest guidelines will be sent to participants once they register.
DesignQuest is open to all New Jersey middle and high school students grades six thru twelve, and offers you the opportunity to go beyond solving complex issues, and take more than a technological approach. It requires human-centered thinking and emotional processes towards equitable solutions so no one is left behind. By integrating social and emotional principles such as empathy, collaboration, and resilience into the creative process, you will deepen your understanding of complex issues and other human actions. You will also contribute to a proactive mindset for a future that is healthy and safe for everyone. DesignQuest includes workplace readiness skills, artistic design, and green collar career pathways to help you prepare to be a socially responsible employee or business owner.
Empower Trip's Vision: Expanding DesignQuest Across States, Organizations and Schools
Empower Trip LLP, the creative force behind DesignQuest, is on a mission to empower teens through arts and innovation challenges that cultivate essential skills for the future. This unique program, known for its exciting, real-world scenarios, is actively seeking partnerships to expand beyond its current locations. Empower Trip envisions a nationwide footprint, working with schools, organizations, and states eager to enhance youth education with dynamic, creative, and impactful learning experiences.
Why DesignQuest Is the Perfect Partner for Schools and Organizations
DesignQuest is a one-of-a-kind challenge designed specifically for teenagers. It blends creative problem-solving with real-world scenarios that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and a forward-thinking mindset. Each challenge, like the “Tomorrow’s Non-Profit” scenario, gives teens a hands-on opportunity to engage with professionals, learn from real case studies, and build solutions that could shape their futures.
For schools, DesignQuest provides an innovative curriculum supplement that aligns with STEM and arts-based learning standards. For nonprofits, companies, and community organizations, partnering with DesignQuest offers a pathway to engage with youth in a meaningful way, allowing them to share their expertise, while benefiting from the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas teens bring to the table.
Expanding the Reach of DesignQuest with Empower Trip
Empower Trip’s goal is to make DesignQuest accessible to every interested teen, no matter their location. By expanding to other states, schools, and organizations, Empower Trip hopes to create a vast network of empowered young thinkers who can collaborate, learn, and grow beyond the confines of their local communities. To do this, Empower Trip seeks partnerships with educational institutions, state programs, and nonprofits that share a vision for empowering the next generation of leaders.
How Can You Bring DesignQuest to your School or Organization?
If you’re an educator, organization leader, or community advocate looking to inspire your students, members, or community, Empower Trip would love to connect! By bringing DesignQuest to your school or organization, you can help build essential skills in youth that prepare them for the future workforce while creating a positive impact in your community.
Whether you’re based in a large city, a rural area, or anywhere in between, DesignQuest is designed to be flexible, accessible, and scalable. Empower Trip has created easy-to-implement programs for various budgets and logistical needs to ensure every school, organization, and state agency has an opportunity to inspire the next generation.