Engineering students are often taught how to solve problems, but far less often are they asked to step back and understand the lives and landscapes their work will shape. That gap is exactly what the Engineering for People Design Challenge aims to close.
Each year, more than 13,000 students across 47 universities worldwide take on a brief rooted in the challenges faced by a real community. Rather than rushing to solutions – as our instincts often drive us to – participants are encouraged to pause and listen. The Challenge starts not with ideas, but with context: who you’re designing with, what they value, and how engineering decisions ripple through daily life.
Earlier this year, we visited ASU London (formerly TEDI-London) to launch the 2025/26 Design Challenge, focusing on Ladywood, Birmingham. While rich in social connection and creativity, the neighbourhood also faces inequality, under-investment and rising climate pressures. These are challenges shared by communities worldwide, which is what makes Ladywood such a powerful learning context.
The introductory workshop focused on two foundational approaches. First, the importance of spending time in the “problem space” – slowing down, listening, and recognising the social and environmental dynamics that shape people’s lives. Second, developing the ability to ask better questions. Together, these habits underpin an engineer’s capacity to deliver solutions that not only consider technical requirements, but are also socially and culturally appropriate.
“Engineering for People is our first module that we run and it lays down all the groundworks for everything else that we’re going to be doing later. And more than that, it is something that the students really enjoy and connect with, creating a really positive relationship with engineering and learning.”
– Shraeyas Massey, Teaching Fellow, ASU London
Integrating the Challenge
One of the key strengths of Engineering for People is its adaptability. The programme doesn’t require a curriculum overhaul to be implemented. Resources are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing modules, replacing project briefs or case studies with a rich, real-world alternative.
Some universities embed the Challenge across a full year, while others run it as a short design sprint. Regardless of the format, the emphasis remains the same – project-based learning that mirrors real engineering practice and helps students develop the skills they’ll need to navigate industry in a socially conscious way.
If you’re interested in bringing the Challenge to your institution, you can register your interest here or contact us at [email protected] to arrange a conversation.
