University of Michigan’s Winter 2025 Integrated Product Design Challenge Tackles Water Accessibility and Conservation

ANN ARBOR, MI – The University of Michigan’s Integrated Product Design (IPD) program is set to launch its Winter 2025 Design Challenge, bringing together interdisciplinary teams of students from business, engineering, and design. These teams will develop innovative solutions to address one of the most pressing global concerns: water accessibility, safety, and conservation.

This year’s theme, “Innovative Solutions for Water Challenges,” pushes students to design products that ensure water is accessible, safe, and clean while promoting sustainable usage. From aging infrastructure and contamination to water scarcity and flood resilience, the challenge addresses issues impacting communities across the U.S. and beyond.

Online and In-Person Product Launch Events

The Winter 2025 IPD Challenge begins with an online product launch from April 9-12, where the public can explore and vote for their favorite product concepts. This will be followed by an in-person showcase and awards event on April 16 from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Winter Garden at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

At the event, student teams will present their final products to industry leaders, faculty, and peers. One standout team will receive the Sarah Murphy Prize, a $5,000 award recognizing the most promising business plan.

A Platform for Real-World Impact

The IPD Challenge is more than a classroom project. It’s a hands-on experience that pushes students to create solutions that could shape industries. By integrating business strategy with technical feasibility and user-centered design, the competition mirrors the real-world product development process. Students don’t just build prototypes, they develop go-to-market strategies and refine their concepts based on real feedback.

For many, the experience is transformative. "I'm glad that I was part of this course where I got a chance to interact with cross-functional people, where each one has different talents and skill sets to bring to the table. Even the process of developing a product from scratch and integrating feedback was fun and challenging," said one participant.

Another student highlighted the challenge of working across disciplines. "The course was an amazing opportunity for me to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, explore new fields like electronics, design, and UX research, and also finally create something new and innovative that would help society."

The university community and the public are encouraged to participate in online voting and attend the in-person event to see these groundbreaking ideas in action. More details are available on the official IPD website, ipd.umich.edu.

About Integrated Product Design at the University of Michigan

The Integrated Product Design (IPD) program at the University of Michigan fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between students from the Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Stamps School of Art & Design, and School of Information. Through hands-on challenges, students gain the expertise needed to develop innovative products that address global challenges and drive industry transformation.

Post-Event Coverage and Media Inquiries

Following the event, a recap highlighting the winning team and their product will be available. Media outlets interested in covering the results are encouraged to reach out.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Erika Block
Lecturer
Center for Entrepreneurship | College of Engineering
Ross School of Business
[email protected]