How It Works

For Engineers

01

Read the Brief

Every Monday we publish a new engineering design challenge with a detailed brief, technical constraints, and defined deliverables. The brief is written by practising engineers — no vague or ambiguous specs.

02

Pay the Entry Fee

Entry fees are small (typically £10–£20). The fee goes directly into the prize pool. Pay securely via Stripe. Your entry is confirmed instantly — no bureaucracy.

03

Submit Your Design

Upload your PDF engineering pack (drawings, rationale, BOM) and up to 5 preview images. Submissions are accepted until the competition deadline.

04

Peer Scoring

After the deadline, all entrants score each other's work (blind — no names shown). Rate each submission on Feasibility, Innovation, Clarity, and Design Quality. Participation in voting is required to have your submission scored.

05

Win Prizes

The winner takes 60% of the total prize pool. Runner-up takes 10%. Prizes paid directly to your bank account via Stripe Connect within 48 hours of announcement.

Judging Criteria

Feasibility25%

Does the design actually work? Is it manufacturable with stated processes and materials? Are the calculations correct?

Innovation25%

Is the approach novel or particularly elegant? Does it solve the problem in an unexpected way that improves on the obvious solution?

Design Quality25%

Are drawings complete and professional? Is GD&T applied correctly? Is the BOM accurate and complete?

Presentation25%

Is the design rationale clear and well-argued? Could a manufacturer build from the submitted documentation alone?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter?

Any engineer worldwide. There are no restrictions on profession, experience level, or country. We do ask that you're genuinely interested in engineering — this platform is for people who care about good design.

What format should my submission be in?

Your main submission should be a single PDF document containing your drawings, BOM, and design rationale. Additionally upload up to 5 PNG or JPG images showing key views of your design for the gallery.

What happens if I don't complete my submission after paying?

Your entry fee is added to the prize pool regardless. You must submit before the deadline to be eligible for scoring. Refunds are not available after payment.

How do payouts work?

Winners are paid via Stripe Connect direct transfer. You'll need to connect a bank account when you register. Payouts are processed within 48 hours of winner announcement.

Is my design IP protected?

For public competitions: you retain full IP rights to your design. For sponsored competitions: by entering you grant the sponsor a licence to use the submitted design. This is clearly stated in the competition brief.

For Sponsors

Sponsored competitions give engineering companies access to real design solutions from motivated engineers who have financial skin in the game. Unlike traditional design contests, every entrant has paid to participate — which means you get serious work, not sketches.

We handle everything: writing the brief (with your input), running the competition, collecting entries, scoring, and announcing winners. You review the submissions and get the IP (for sponsored competitions).

  • Real engineering talent solving your actual problems
  • All IP belongs to you — designs submitted become sponsor property (sponsored competitions only)
  • Talent scouting: identify engineers for recruitment
  • Brand exposure to our growing community of engineers
  • Access to all submissions (not just the winner)
  • Ability to run private, invite-only competitions

Contact us to discuss your challenge and pricing.

Get in Touch