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COMMUNITY : HELP : FEEDBACK


Contest Ideas and Suggestions


Just thought I'd start a forum topic for people to post contest ideas under one topic. 

I did a quick search and found questions about contest ideas and multiple topics that are specific to a single suggestion.  So, I am posting this as a starting point and will add ideas for any contests here from now on.  And hopefully it won't just be me posting : )

If this does exist somewhere already, let me know!

Thanks!

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38
NightHawkInLight says: Jan 6, 2012. 1:28 PM
Make the judging process more public. Nobody besides the judges themselves have any idea why one Instructable was chosen over another. I'm very much starting to suspect the selection is entirely on personal taste, not at all on points allotted based on the quality of the content of the Instructables themselves. It made me physically sick to see yet another daft punk helmet recreation in the finalists of the make it glow contest.
67
sherrycayheyhey in reply to NightHawkInLightJan 12, 2012. 7:27 PM
YES! I'm very confused by the judging as well. I entered one contest with two entries and the one with less views and that was never featured ended up as a finalist. I was left scratching my head on that one and wishing I could see the scorecards haha.

I understand that the weekly challenges are the sole decision of the hosting party so that's that but the larger contests are a complete mystery. I don't understand why there is a vote option for users if the votes don't count towards judging and it's not like you can see how many votes you got either, so what's the point? Sometimes it seems like projects win because they are really intricate. Even though these projects are nice, if the criteria of " originality, usefulness, simplicity, and clarity of instructions" were really the criteria then less of these would be taking the prize.

I think that contests might have been like this before but it would be so cool if there could be winners based on various criteria such as most views (from unique users), most votes, etc., as well as the winners based on the normal criteria.
16
Attmos in reply to sherrycayheyheyAug 11, 2012. 12:33 PM
I wonder about this too...
ejp1087 says: Mar 12, 2012. 4:08 PM
I'm not too sure what kind of contest you would do for this, but it would be really cool to see a prize from http://www.emotiv.com/index.php
22
monsterlego says: Mar 12, 2012. 1:28 PM
lego.
Ilija Miljkovac says: Mar 12, 2012. 12:45 PM
bump
Ilija Miljkovac says: Mar 10, 2012. 2:35 AM
ummmm how about you make the contest awards open to anyone you know that usa,canada,UK,and australia are not the only countryes in the world


maybe a recykle contest with the max being 10$
annahowardshaw aggre
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Mar 7, 2012. 11:08 PM
Potato contest...cooking, cannons, powering clocks, the opportunity to say 'tater' a lot.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jan 30, 2012. 4:35 AM
Puns!

Unless I’m the only one who has made Instructables working back from a silly title : )

Also, did you know the pun is also called paronomasia? Just looked that up…
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jan 30, 2012. 4:18 AM
Alarm clocks and/or 'How to wake up on time'.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jun 22, 2011. 10:21 PM
Rube Goldberg machines...that could be out of control.
14
The Papier Boy in reply to annahowardshawJul 14, 2011. 4:55 PM
I second this...
67
sherrycayheyhey in reply to The Papier BoyJan 12, 2012. 7:30 PM
I third it...
18
frank26080115 says: Jul 14, 2011. 9:14 PM
I suggest something about "Student Life"

Stuff about secret ways of making Kraft Dinner, dorm pranks, beer pong tables, poker tables, building long boards, etc
67
sherrycayheyhey in reply to frank26080115Jan 12, 2012. 7:30 PM
That's a great idea! The dorm room cuisine alone would make this worth it haha.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Dec 7, 2011. 9:58 PM
New Year's Resolution Tips/Tricks and Tools

Fridge locks, quit smoking aids, exercise equipment, tracking systems, etc.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Aug 8, 2011. 10:04 PM
Similar to the TV show suggestion, what about projects based on songs? Sew a 'Short Skirt and Long Jacket' if you are a Cake fan, an intro to Magic if you love The Cars or a guide on how to get up again when you get knocked down if you love Chumbawamba and Instructables of a more abstract nature : )

Lots of sponsor possibilities...from huge to indie.
116
mikeasaurus in reply to annahowardshawNov 2, 2011. 6:48 PM
That's a really neat idea!
If I can't make a large contest out of this concept I'll make a Weekly Challenge.
18
splazem in reply to annahowardshawAug 9, 2011. 7:33 AM
That would be cool!
6
BrianJewett says: Oct 23, 2011. 9:15 AM
Contest Suggestion: Holiday Ornaments from Recycled Materials.

I'm in the process of working out a recycling project with our small town's transfer station to set up a tree and encourage the community to make ornaments from materials in their personal waste stream and hang them on this community Trashy Christmas Tree.

I came here looking for examples and was amazed to get zero responses to a search under "recycled ornament"! I've since found some but I think this would be a ripe subject for a contest in the coming season. We've all done this, as kids, for our first holidays away from home, and then with our own kids.
Spiraling Homesteader says: Oct 17, 2011. 11:59 AM
Designs for modular storage units that are made out of readily available material.
Reason - the greatest single need immediately following any disaster is storage. But 1 size does not fit all, so the need could be fit with a modular design.
Reasonably secure - anyone wishing to break into anything will.
4-season construction - similar to a 4-season tent.
Preferably that can be portable - say on pallets.
Preferably that can be partially assembled off site (by volunteers) and finished on site - so people could pick up the segments they needed and finish on their property.
the less expensive the better.
Any materials that are readily available, including materials being tossed due to the disaster.
This alone would revolutionize disaster recovery.
William_d_reames says: Aug 12, 2011. 2:59 AM
wiimote, wii in general
septimia7 says: Jul 30, 2011. 12:00 PM
Paper Mache contest would be really cool!! I already have 4 props and am ready to enter into a contest!!!!
18
splazem says: Jul 14, 2011. 8:44 PM
TV show inspired things...
14
The Papier Boy says: Jul 14, 2011. 4:54 PM
PAPER MACHE CONTEST!!!!!
36
vishalapr says: Jul 12, 2011. 9:32 AM
How about a paper contest!
and an origami contest!
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jun 27, 2011. 6:26 PM
Wind chimes
2
RedneckEngineer says: Jun 27, 2011. 9:06 AM
How about a leather contest? Not alot of ibles with leather, but there are some very good ones.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jun 21, 2011. 1:55 PM
Vegan cooking contest!
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: Jun 3, 2011. 5:31 PM
Pet Projects

Arduino-controlled cats toys, home-made dog food, turtle cozies...

It would be super-fun and crazy cute : )
223
OrigamiAirEnforcer says: Jun 2, 2011. 1:26 PM
Perhaps an official successor to the Toss It! Speed Contest... :D

And to be honest, I am of the belief that the prizes used in the original would be suitable for a sequel too.
6
builderkidj says: Jun 1, 2011. 8:37 PM
Nintendo Vs. sega



Prize...
                                                                                                http://www.amazon.com/Zelda-Twilight-Princess-Master-Replica/dp/B001I87WMC/ref=pd_sbs_misc_2


anybody with me?







37
AndyGadget says: Jun 1, 2011. 2:24 PM

A solar contest is a great idea - I'd be up for that.

How about a timekeeping contest? Anything to do with temporal measurement. This could attract everything from a calibrated candle to a caesium resonance clock.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: May 22, 2011. 10:19 AM
Solar contest?
14
scraptopower in reply to annahowardshawMay 26, 2011. 10:10 AM
That would be good.
37
SHIFT! in reply to scraptopowerMay 31, 2011. 11:20 AM
But what would be a good prize? Solar panels might be out of the question, if someone shows how to make their own.
14
steveastrouk in reply to SHIFT!May 31, 2011. 1:27 PM
Realistic solar panels are not an "instructable" topic - the chemistry and/or the fabrication is very tricky. The copper based ones are toys, and the titanium dioxide ones are very tricky to get right too.
37
SHIFT! in reply to steveastroukMay 31, 2011. 2:34 PM
So solar panels as prizes then?
14
steveastrouk in reply to SHIFT!Jun 1, 2011. 1:45 AM
Yes, especially the sexy flexible unisolar ones.

Steve
37
SHIFT! in reply to steveastroukJun 1, 2011. 2:07 AM
Interesting, might have to purchase some for personal use. What's the general output on one of those?
14
steveastrouk in reply to SHIFT!Jun 1, 2011. 9:44 AM
Their output's not bad, but the efficiency isn't as good as state of the art.
But state of the art don't bend well....
Steve
15
LargeMouthBass says: May 31, 2011. 1:44 PM
A high voltage contest would be cool and interesting, but it would never happen for fear that it would end up being more of a "Darwin Award" competition. Although, I guess if you survived to complete and post your instructable, you must be doing something right (or you're just lucky..)
37
SHIFT! says: May 30, 2011. 1:16 AM
I find it really interesting to read through all of your list of suggestions, especially since I got to sit in and review some of the upcoming ones. I think you all will be pleasantly surprised as what we have in store for you.
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: May 28, 2011. 12:23 PM
Steampunk contest.
There are always a few cool steampunk entries is different contests, so a competition dedicated to the theme would be awesome!
8
Nostalgic Guy says: May 27, 2011. 2:32 PM
How about a Recyled Home & Garden contest?
Get people to make something for the house or garden from recycled/salvaged materials with say a top limit of £5.00 for new parts & materials.
That's one I could really get my teeth into :-)
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: May 26, 2011. 4:08 AM
Make an instrument contest!
(Or something music related)
9
diyoutdoorsman says: May 22, 2011. 1:00 PM
How about a contest for the best use of a 5 gallon bucket?
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: May 18, 2011. 10:16 AM
101 Contest

The challenge: Create an Instructable that gives people and introduction to any subject (academic or not).

I've seen a bunch of these out there on very specific topics, but haven't seen a contest yet.
38
Goodhart in reply to annahowardshawMay 18, 2011. 6:58 PM
Ooo, like my Radio intro (part one and two) ibles....
165
Kiteman says: May 18, 2011. 11:19 AM
It's been a while since the last Burning Questions...
91
annahowardshaw (author) says: May 18, 2011. 10:18 AM

Woodworking contest sponsored by Rockler.

(I just like them. So it would be cool if they did something with Instructables)
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