This award explores the world of product design, which involves balancing time, cost, and quality to create something new, usually a product that will be sold to consumers or other businesses.
Next Big Thing
Requirements last updated 2022-05-26. There are broken links and outdated information in places and formatting may not match between two Nova awards because the requirements are preserved to match the original state from Scouting America. Where available, the related counselor notes have been included along with the requirements.
1.
Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.
A.
Watch not less than three hours total of shows or documentaries
that involve the creation of new products. This can include
entrepreneurship, innovation, new technology, and/or engineering
design. Then do the following:
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
shows you watched.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
B.
Read not less than three hours total about product design. Then do
the following:
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
articles you read.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
C.
Do a combination of reading and watching, not less than three hours
total. Then do the following:
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
articles you read or the shows you watched.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
Some examples include - but are not limited to - shows found on PBS
("NOVA"), Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic
Channel, TED Talks (online videos), and the History Channel. You
may choose to watch a live performance or movie at a planetarium or
science museum instead of watching a media production. You may
watch online productions with your counselor's approval and under
your parent's or guardian's supervision.
2.
Complete ONE merit badge from the following list. (Choose one that you
have not already used for another Nova award.) Discuss with your
counselor how the merit badge you earned relates to product design.
3.
Complete four of the activities below.
A.
Explore product innovation
Examine one product and at least two different versions of that
product. Create a list of the differences between the designs.
Discuss with your counselor the differences and what you think each
difference is trying to solve.
B.
Research prototyping methods
Find and explain the differences between a "works-like" and
"looks-like" prototype. Learn the reasons and applications where
one method would be chosen over the other. Research different ways
and costs of having a product professionally prototyped. Explore
the reasons why one method would be chosen over another. Discuss
and explain your findings with your counselor
C.
Market research
Research and understand the terms: market size, business plan,
value proposition, elevator pitch, cost-effective design, and
ethnographic research - specifically, in reference to product
design. Discuss with your counselor what these terms mean and why
they are important for a product designer to understand, and how
they affect the design of a product.
D.
Practice brainstorming
Examine different brainstorming methods. Choose a product you have
used or a situation you have experienced. Using one method you
found, brainstorm various ways to improve the product or situation.
You do not have to brainstorm designs, just ways to improve the
design. Present your list to your counselor and discuss.
E.
Learn about and practice "Painstorming"
Research "painstorming": what it is and how it is done? Choose a
product you have used or a situation you have experienced and
"painstorm" for at least 15 minutes. Do not think of designs to
solve the pains, just list as many pains as you can. Present your
list of pains to your counselor and discuss.
F.
Inventors
Choose a historical or modern inventor who interests you, and
research them and their inventions. If possible, learn about the
iterations their product went through before it became successful.
Discuss with your counselor the researcher and their inventions, as
well as why you chose that person.
4.
Product Design
Do ALL the following requirements.
A.
Using either "painstorming" or brainstorming, design a new product.
Create a 3D model of your design with modeling software or sketch
your design. Some common CAD programs with free student versions
include Autodesk Inventor, Catia, CREO, Google SketchUp, and Solid
Works.
B.
Discuss your design and reasons for your choices with your
counselor. Explain your 3D model or sketches, and what your next
steps would be to make the product a reality.
5.
Do ALL the following requirements.
A.
Visit a company/school/institution where new products are being
developed.
B.
Talk to someone there about how they use product design in their
work. Prepare at least five questions to ask the person you talk to
and discuss their answers with your counselor.
C.
Discuss with your counselor how products are being designed at the
destination you visited.
6.
Reflect on your experiences during the completion of these requirements
with your counselor. Discuss with your counselor how product design
affects your everyday life, and what you have learned while working on
this Nova.
