Reimagining outdoor spaces at your school
GameTime has been building playgrounds for nearly 100 years and is looking for the next great designer to tell us what's next for outdoor spaces at schools. Is it even a playground? Is it something no one has thought of yet?
Nearly every school has an empty outdoor space that sits unused, or an old outdoor space in need of reimagining. GameTime is inviting students to explore the challenge:
“How Might We design outdoor spaces at your school that everyone can enjoy, even your family and teachers?”
Your invention could be a playground, a new piece of playground equipment, an outdoor classroom, a garden, a gathering spot, or something entirely new.
A product
A piece of equipment, a game, or a technology that gets every generation playing together.
A place
A complete outdoor space design that invites kids, families, and friends of all ages and abilities to play, learn, and socialize.
Best Prototype wins an Expression Swing®.
The school of the team that wins Best Prototype receives a GameTime Expression Swing® Tandem: a $2,000 piece of playground equipment. And there's a reason this prize goes to Best Prototype: the Expression Swing was designed at Auburn University and went through several rounds of prototypes before becoming one of GameTime's most popular products. It started as an idea that got built, tested, and rebuilt until it worked. That is exactly the process this challenge asks of you.
GameTime covers shipping, and the swing comes with instructions so your school's maintenance staff can install it. Your school will need an existing swing frame. If you don't have one, GameTime will help you get one or you can choose another GameTime product of equal value.
As the leading play innovators since 1928, GameTime has combined play research with thoughtful design to create thousands of spectacular custom play spaces around the world.
Specializing in customized design, urban-tough play environments, and inclusive play spaces for people of all abilities, GameTime is recognized as the leader in creativity, originality, and product innovation. Their numerous inventions have resulted in many new ways to play and have advanced safety through innovations that have become industry standards.
of the playgrounds you experience are made by GameTime
playgrounds are made by GameTime around the world every year
“Student engagement and enthusiasm remained high from the introduction of the challenge statement all the way through building the prototype. It is a rare project that fosters this much teamwork and collaboration.”Ralph Keith · Rock Spring Elementary
Five steps. Four weeks. One 90-second pitch.
Step 1: Identify a problem
Observe your surroundings and people for inspiration. Identify a problem in outdoor spaces that, if solved, would bring people of all ages together through play, learning, and community.
Step 2: Brainstorm
Come up with as many ideas as possible! Focus on creating lots of ideas. In this stage of ideation, the sky's the limit!
Step 3: Identify your favorite idea
Narrow your ideas down to one top idea that is truly original. Check that your invention doesn't already exist; ideas that are already on the market will not be considered. Narrow it down to the idea which you would like to use as inspiration for your solution prototype.
Step 4: Prototype
Once you've landed on an idea, create your prototype. What should your prototype look like? What should it be made of? Each prototype will be judged on how well your solution addresses your problem.
Step 5: Pitch your solution
Record a 90-second video pitch that includes the following elements:
- Introduce yourself: Name, school, and grade
- Identify the problem: Tell us about the community problem you chose to tackle.
- Describe your ideation process: What is your solution? What process did you take to come up with this idea?
- Demonstrate your prototype: How will people use and engage with your invention? What impact will your solution have on the community and people in need?
- Test your prototype: Show us what you did to test your solution. Try asking a prospective user: Would you use it? Does it solve your problem?
Participants submit their 90-second pitch video using a Google Form. The form opens Monday, October 12, and the link is provided via email. The submission deadline is October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Every student needs a Parent / Guardian Form on file before their invention is submitted. See how to submit.
Originality matters. Inventions that already exist will not be considered, so do your research before you build.
The submitted video and prototype must be the student's own original, unpublished work and must not utilize artificial intelligence in the final submission. By entering the competition, the student and adult sponsor agree that the submission is the student's own work. Bridge Innovate® and its program Bright Spark® have free and unlimited use rights to use the work to promote and benefit future Bright Spark® programs and services.
Build something real.
Not a worksheet. A real thing you designed, that people will watch and vote on.
- ✓Join with your class, or enter on your own with a parent or guardian’s permission.
- ✓Your pitch goes public on the Bridge Innovate® YouTube channel for voting.
- ✓Build an innovation portfolio you can show colleges and scholarship committees.
A design thinking unit that runs itself.
A real deadline, a real audience, and a structure your students follow start to finish.
- ✓Register your whole class. Students compete solo or in teams.
- ✓Every teacher leader receives a Design Thinking Leadership digital badge.
The schedule
The Challenge begins
Four weeks to find a problem, build a prototype, test it, and record a pitch.
Submission form opens
We'll email the video submission link to every registered participant. Make sure each student's Parent / Guardian Form is on file.
5:00 PM EST
Pitch videos due
Submit your 90-second pitch video using the Google Form we email you. Parent / Guardian Form must be on file.
9 AM–5 PM EST
Public voting
Every pitch goes up on the Bridge Innovate® website and YouTube channel. Only “Likes” count. The top 10 in each age level move on as finalists for judging by a panel of industry professionals and educators.
10–11 AM EST
Virtual awards ceremony
Winners are recognized live, streamed to all participating students, teams, and families.
What the judges look for
The top finalists will be judged based on the following criteria:
- IdeaIdentifies a real-world problem or challenge in outdoor spaces at school.
- OriginalityThe idea is original, novel, creative, and inspiring.
- Ideation processDemonstrates the invention's function and application.
- PrototypeIn alignment with the ideation and considers cost and material needs.
- ExperimentDemonstrates multiple rounds of testing of the prototype.
Finalists are determined by public voting on YouTube, where the top ten videos in each age level advance. Finalists' pitch videos are then viewed and judged by a panel of industry professionals and educators.
What's on the line
- 3×Best Overall by Age Level: Elementary, Middle, High. $100 gift card, certificate, and recognition.
- 1×Most Creative: $100 gift card, certificate, and recognition.
- 1×Best Prototype, sponsored by GameTime: a GameTime Expression Swing® Tandem, a $2,000 value, plus a certificate.
- ★People's Choice: awarded in any school district with 10 or more submissions.
Winning individuals and teams receive a virtual certificate and recognition on the Bridge Innovate® website and Bright Spark® social media. All teacher leaders receive a Design Thinking Leadership digital badge.
Meet the judges
Good to know
Who can enter?
Students in grades 4–12, ages 9 to 18. Teachers can register their whole class, and students compete solo or in teams. Students can also participate on their own, outside of a class, with permission from a parent or guardian.
Does it cost anything?
No. Participation is completely free, and the program is virtual from start to finish.
Can international schools and students participate?
Yes! The challenge is virtual from start to finish, so schools and students anywhere in the world can register and compete.
Do I need a Parent / Guardian Form?
Yes, every student needs one on file before their invention is submitted. Many families already completed it during registration. If yours hasn't, complete it online or in print. Without it, the invention cannot be considered for judging or awards.
How do we submit our video?
Using a Google Form. It opens Monday, October 12, and we'll email the link to every registered participant. Videos are due October 30 at 5 PM ET.
How much time does this take for a teacher?
The Challenge runs October 5 through 30. The five-step process is designed to fit a normal class schedule, and the free educator kit includes a workbook, a facilitation guide, and videos that teach the process.
How to submit
Two things for every student, before October 30 at 5 PM ET.
Step 1 of 2
Parent / Guardian Form
One per student · Before you submit
Many families completed this during registration. If yours hasn’t, complete it before you submit your invention. Without it, the invention cannot be considered for judging or awards.
Step 2 of 2
Submit your video
Opens Monday, Oct 12 · Due Oct 30, 5 PM ET
We’ll email the Google Form link to every registered participant. Upload your 90-second pitch there. Remember: inventions that already exist will not be considered.
Using the print form? Email a scan or photo of the signed form to hello@bridgeinnovate.com. Not sure if a form is on file? Just ask us.
Videos are due October 30.
The submission form opens Monday, October 12. Make sure every student has a Parent / Guardian Form on file first.
Questions? hello@bridgeinnovate.com
2024 Bright Spark INVENTION Challenge Engagement
87 Pitch Videos
•
340+ Registrants
•
12 Countries Participating
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87 Pitch Videos • 340+ Registrants • 12 Countries Participating •
Meet the Winners of the 2025 Bright Spark® Invention Challenge
Check out the winning submissions from the Fall 2025 Bright Spark® Invention Challenge!
Best Overall: Elementary
Invention: “Tranquility Table”
Student(s): Mia Radilla, Aracely Ramirez, Zuleyka Garcia
School: Hopkins Elementary School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ana Juarez
Best Overall: Middle
Invention: “InnovaDesk”
Student(s): Mahrosh Rasool
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ambreen Razi
Best Overall: High
Invention: “WaveBuds”
Student(s): Oona Cristina Romualdez, Siheli Nulara, Mariyah Khan
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Suriyapriya
Most Creative
Invention: “Holo Class”
Student(s): Harshit Chaturvedy
School: Forsyth Central High School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ritesh Kumar
Best Prototype
Invention: “Edusphere”
Student(s): Shreyash Sanjay, Harshithaa Balaji, Omisha Hegde
School: Delhi Private School, Sharjah
Teacher / Sponsor: Veena Mohanan
Special Recognition | Human Centerered Design Award
Invention: “Adjusted Learning”
Student(s): Jude McKeehan and Braden Knauth
School: East Hamilton Middle School
Teacher / Sponsor: Abigail Klett
Special Recognition | Design For Impact Award
Invention: “Empowered Education”
Student(s): Boakye Tweneboa Kodua
School: North Clayton Middle School
Teacher / Sponsor: Brittney Blackwell
People's Choice Recognition: Elementary
Invention: “Schooling Online”
Student(s): Alex Tsotskolauri and Anson Tran
School: Hopkins Elementary School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ana Juarez
People's Choice Recognition: Middle
Invention: “AVAI”
Student(s): Atharv Johari,
Veer Singh Kukreja
School: Delhi Private School, Sharjah
Teacher / Sponsor: Namita Saxena
People's Choice Recognition: High
Invention: “WaveBuds”
Student(s): Oona Cristina Romualdez, Siheli Nulara, Mariyah Khan
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Suriyapriya
About Bright Spark®
Bright Spark® is an experiential adventure designed to ignite and build creative confidence for students and educators, based on the premise that design thinking is fundamental to creating human-centered change. Fueled by inspiration and relentless in creating bold solutions to complex challenges, designers play a vital role in enriching life's journey.