WICHITA, KS (March 24, 2026) – The pressure was high as Make48 launched its milestone 10th season at the GoCreate makerspace this week. In a city world-renowned for its aviation history, student inventors were tasked with a mission every traveler can appreciate: reinventing the in-flight experience. Partnering with challenge sponsor Fastenal, the competition required teams to prototype a functional product in just 48 hours. Drawing inspiration from a private tour of the Kansa

The countdown is officially on. Tomorrow, the energy at Wichita State University is going to shift as we kick off the first competition of Make48 Season 10. We’re back at GoCreate , a premier creative community makerspace at Wichita State University. It provides the perfect backdrop for the energizing problem-solving our viewers have come to love. While the spirit of the competition remains the same, we are shaking things up this year with a major twist to the format. The 24-

In the world of toy design, few names carry as much weight as Design Edge. For over 30 years, the firm has been the secret engine behind the world’s most iconic playthings, partnering with giants like Mattel, Hasbro, and Spin Master. Leading the charge is Matt Nuccio, a man who literally grew up in the industry. “My parents started Design Edge when I was 14, in our family garage on Long Island,” Matt recalls. “I’ve been there pretty much since.” While the company has long sin

We are beyond excited to announce that Make48 is officially kicking off Season 10! And what better place to start than the exact spot where our City competitions first began? We’re heading back to   GoCreate, A Koch Collaborative  on the Wichita State University Innovation Campus. Our team has so much history here. We hosted our very first City Regional event at GoCreate back in 2021, returned for another regional competition in 2022, and even hosted our Season 5 Nationals at

We are wrapping up our Make48 Classroom Experience pod announcements with a phenomenal showing! This semester, students have consistently blown us away with their problem-solving skills, and this final group was no exception. For this pod, teams tackled the “Off the Grid”  challenge at Vandermont, presented by Matt Muse Construction. Students were pushed to think outside the boundaries of traditional infrastructure, dreaming up innovative, self-sustaining solutions for off-gr

For this Make48 challenge, students took on a unique prompt from our sponsor, Matt Muse Construction. The “Off the Grid, On the Same Page” challenge pushed teams to think about construction, infrastructure, and resource management in off-grid scenarios. It required a deep dive into self-sustaining design and collaborative problem-solving. Meet the Winning Team After reviewing all the incredible submissions, one team truly built an outstanding solution. A massive congratulatio

If you walked into a Make48 competition a few years ago, you might have met a quiet student named Mara Hug. Fast forward to today, and Mara is a creative force of nature. This young woman is a podcaster, instructional assistant, college student, and an upcoming leader in the community. Her journey with Make48 didn’t start with a "spark" – it started with a bit of a push. But as any true innovator knows, sometimes the best breakthroughs happen under pressure. We sat down with

Trimble has officially teamed up with Make48 as a product placement sponsor for the 2026 season. Known for empowering over 33 million industry professionals to dream, design, and create,   Trimble’s 3D modeling software SketchUp  is bringing its "Vision to Realization" philosophy directly to our competitions. This season, the collaboration goes beyond just software. The industry-standard CAD design platform will also bring a dedicated Tool Tech to events to support competing

From buzzing insects to powering up with nature, students in the Classroom Experience proved that when it comes to sustainability, the future looks bright. We are thrilled to announce the winners of the “Sustainability In View” challenge, a part of the Make48 Innovation Experience. Partnering with the Little Rock Zoo and EAST, students were tasked with creating solutions that bring conservation and sustainability into focus. The creativity, teamwork, and passion for the envir

When a global leader like Stanley Black & Decker  issues a challenge, you know the bar for creativity and execution is set incredibly high. This semester, collegiate teams from across the country answered the Make48 Challenge call: “Pack it Forward.” Students were tasked with rethinking packaging and storage solutions, finding innovative ways to make tools and equipment more organized, accessible, and efficient for the pros who use them every day. The competition was intense,