How can you design a camper van for living and traveling in a small space?
Students began our first Design Competition by learning about camper vans and how designers make small spaces functional for everyday living. Every student was given the same materials and the same design challenge, and their final designs would be judged anonymously on two areas: problem solving and creativity. Before building their vans, students began by thinking about what they would actually need for a camping trip. They created three items: something to wear, something they would need, and something they would bring for fun. Their choices became part of the design problem because everything they created would eventually need a place inside their camper van.
Students then designed and built their vans within a set of constraints. Every camper needed a place to sleep, a place to eat, and a place to store their belongings. With limited space and the same set of building materials, students had to decide how to organize their vans and make the most of the space available. This is where the designs took different directions. Students added features like hidden storage, convertible furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, and awnings while considering what could realistically fit and function within a small space. Each choice required them to balance creativity with practical problem-solving.
At the end of the competition, each camper van was displayed with only a number. Parents served as judges, selecting the entries that demonstrated the strongest problem solving and creativity. The challenge brought together spatial reasoning, measurement, engineering, and planning as students considered how to make a limited space work for the person using it.
Our first Design Competition ended with ties for both 1st and 2nd place. Cardiff and Hendo placed 1st, Lyla and Freddy placed 2nd, and Emmie placed 3rd. Congratulations to our winners for the creativity and thought they brought to their designs.
My hope is that students left recognizing that good design is not about adding the most, but making purposeful choices. Given the same materials and challenge, every child can arrive at a completely different solution.
If your child joined us, ask them: What did you bring on your camping trip? What part of your camper van are you most proud of designing?
For families who would like to try the challenge at home, the Camper Van Design Kit used in this competition is available here.
-Cristina
