This weekend over 30 students at the Applied Science University, Bahrain, took part in an exciting international innovation and design event called 48 Hours to Create Ideas organised by the National School for Industrial Systems and Innovation (ENSGSI) at the University of Lorraine.  College students around the world were challenged by major companies in France to generate creative ideas for specific business solutions within a 48 hour deadline.  The goal was for students to gain practical skills in the early stages of a project, including research and idea generation, prioritising ideas under a time constraint, and collaborating with partners in other countries during the development process.  In just 48 hours, 1500 students globally generated over 8000 design concepts for 8 project briefs!

This year’s ASU team comprised students from the graphic design, interior design, and computer science programmes led by Dr Wassim Habib Ahmed, who guided ASU students to collaborate with student design teams from universities in Normandy, Toulouse, and Nanterre.  Students here spoke with French university students to discuss their ideas in Skype video conferencing sessions via French, English, and Arabic languages.  They posted their ideas online and received feedback from big name corporate sponsors Groupe Rocher and Groupe Poult, who asked them to further develop certain ideas with a specific focus.  The ASU student team was also supported by dedicated professors in their fields:

Prof. Samia Aly Mohamed El-Shenawi & Ms Hessa Salem Ajaj Ahmed Ajaj (Graphic Design), Drs Saif Jamal Al-Sultan and Musaab Zeyad Abdul Razzaq Aswad (Comp. Science).

ASU put forward three teams of 10 students, including a visiting student from Saudi Arabia.  They focused on two categories: prototype 3D for future food and cosmetic packaging, working with high creativity and a sense of urgency during their weekend.  The students’ novel cosmetic packaging ideas included:  a sleek 3-in-1 bottle design for skin cleaner, toner, and sunblock; a daisy shaped bottle where the petals could be pressed for differing products; a 3-in-1 pen for eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick; a mini piano where each key offered a different type of make-up, and a funky multi-spherical mouth spray bottle which could be turned different ways. Their food ideas were no less inventive: holograms of restaurant menu items on i-pads; heart shaped candy from a food stapler; a Leaning Tower of Pasta (instead of Pisa); a Sweet and Sour Pizza with cheesecake circumference offering main course and dessert in one; a vitamin supplement chewing gum; a pencil shaped drill to freshly squeeze an orange with a straw for drinking straight from the fruit, and edible toys for kids.  These and other clever ideas have been uploaded to the 48h-innovation maker site and students now eagerly await the results of the competition.

During the event, ASU students and faculty sent their condolences to the team in France after the shocking terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday but were immediately assured that the event would continue regardless.  Towards the end of the 48h event, ASU students were asked about their experiences.  They commented that they loved working together in teams and with foreign students, noting the massive benefits of collaboration.  They also reported how much hard work it was, although one student commented that eating cake was the best part!