Get ready to imagine, innovate, and make a real difference! Join us for a three-day Accessibility Make-a-Thon where high school and college students will design and fabricate assistive devices to make La Nube STEAM Discovery Center exhibits more accessible for visually impaired visitors. In collaboration with Autodesk, the El Paso Council of the Blind, and local sponsors, we aim to make La Nube a more inclusive space for all visitors.

This is more than a challenge—it’s an opportunity for El Paso students to experience hands-on engineering, foster empathy, and learn from industry leaders.

Design Brief

Create tactile maps or other assistive devices to aid visually impaired visitors in navigating the museum’s exhibit zones. Our goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Event Highlights

Participants can expect to benefit from a unique experience that will allow them to exercise and strengthen skills, learn new skills, and make professional connections.

- Dynamic Workshops: Students can sharpen their skills through professional development workshops (including a workshop by the Head of Tinkercad at Autodesk, Guillermo Melantoni)
- Expert Mentorship: Learn from industry pros eager to share their knowledge and help students succeed
- Inclusive Environment: Partnering with the El Paso Council of the Blind to ensure designs are empathy-driven and truly beneficial

How to Participate

CHALLENGE YOURSELF: High school and college students can fill out the registration form below to be placed in design teams. Specific teams can be requested via the form but are not guaranteed. All participants must register individually.

SHARE YOUR SKILLS: Skilled individuals can complete the form below to share their expertise and take part in the event as a Mentors, Challenge Coordinator, Judges or Presenters. College students interested in mentoring high school participants may complete this form.

SUPPORT THE MISSION: Join us in making a difference! Become a sponsor and help support innovative, impactful programs that empower our community. Your sponsorship fuels creativity, accessibility, and the future of STEM education in El Paso. Partner with us today to inspire change and leave a lasting legacy!

Award Categories

Thanks to our generous prize sponsors, including Mike Dee’s Big Adventure, Chocolat, and GSM Design Technologies, we’re thrilled to offer $3,000 in prizes under three award categories, divided into two age groups: high school and college. Standout students will be selected to participate in an exclusive 3-day immersive training experience in 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering, courtesy of GSM Design Technologies.

Best in Design: Awarded to the team with the most creative and user-friendly solution, showcasing intuitive layouts and visually impaired-friendly elements that make navigation of La Nube museum both functional and elegant.

Prize Amount: $500 per team

Best in Engineering: Recognizes exceptional technical execution and precision, with a focus on craftsmanship, durability, and efficient material use to create a robust and practical solution.

Prize Amount: $500 per team

Best in Innovation: Honors groundbreaking ideas or technologies that enhance accessibility, highlighting originality and transformative features that redefine the assistive device experience.

Prize Amount: $500 per team

3D Scanning & Reverse Engineering Masterclass: Courtesy of GSM Design Technologies, ten exceptional students will gain access to a 3-day immersive training experience in 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering. Explore the full potential of Geomagic Design X, the industry-leading Scan-to-CAD software that revolutionizes manufacturing and engineering. GSM Design Technologies will select the winning students.

Prize Value: $1,500+ per training

Event Schedule

Day 1: Friday, January 10th | 5pm-9pm

4:30PM – 5PM | Event Check-in

5:15PM | Welcome & Event Kick-off

5:45PM | Makerspace Accessible Design: Richard He, Lead Accessible Designer at Mountain Lakes Public Library

6:30PM | Empathy Design Workshop: Empathy and need mapping collaboration with the Council of the Blind and VIBE El Paso

7:15PM | La Nube Walkthrough

8PM | Research/Brainstorming

9PM | End of day

Day 2: Saturday, January 11th | 10am-5pm

10AM | Check- in & Begin work day: Design, prototype, document throughout the day

11AM | Project Documentation and Pitch Workshop: Marisol Chavez Program Director at Pioneers 21 Business Incubator and Co-Working Space

1PM | Lunch Provided

2PM | Autodesk Tinkercad to Fusion Workshop: Guillermo Melantoni, Director of Product Management and Head of Tinkercad

4PM | Last call to submit items to 3D print or laser cut

5PM | End of day

Day 3: Sunday, January 12th | 10am-2pm

10AM | Finalize design and prepare for presentations

12PM | Presentations

1:30PM | Winner announcements and awards

2PM | End of event

Guest Speakers

An advocate for design, education, and diversity, Guillermo Melantoni serves as the Director of Product Management for Autodesk’s Fusion and Tinkercad, as well as the Global Lead for Autodesk’s Latinx Network. He drives product strategy for K-12 design education and leads the integration of business models for Fusion.

With over 20 years of experience in architecture, education, and technology, Guillermo’s career began in Uruguay as an architect and educator. He later joined Autodesk as an Application Engineer for Latin America. Since relocating to the U.S., he has managed several key Autodesk products, including AutoCAD, 123D, Tinkercad, and Fusion, with a focus on 3D design, 3D printing, and enhancing user experience.

He is deeply committed to supporting Latinx professionals in tech and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture at Autodesk. Outside of work, Guillermo is a passionate bass player and avid gamer.

Marisol Chávez is the Program Director at Pioneers 21, a non-profit business incubator in Downtown El Paso, where she leads the P21 Venture Mentoring Service, licensed by MIT, to support entrepreneurs in the Borderplex region.

A graduate of VC University by Berkeley Law, Angel Path Academy, and a Hunt Aspen Fellow, Marisol brings expertise in innovation and mentoring. At the Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce, she managed research and funding initiatives as well as mentored businesses on data analysis and market research.

Marisol is a published investigative journalist and photojournalist, her work has appeared in The Guardian and The Dallas Morning News. She holds an MBA and a BA in Multimedia Journalism from The University of Texas at El Paso.

Richard He is the Lead Accessible Resource Designer at the Mountain Lakes Public Library Makerspace, where he is redefining accessibility through cutting-edge innovation. He developed a groundbreaking program that converts text into Braille STL files, enabling quick and seamless 3D printing of tactile resources. Through his work, Richard promotes universal design and introduces STEM concepts to students, empowering them to create solutions that make a real-world impact.

A Stevens Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering graduate specializing in product design, Richard brings expertise in 3D printing and accessibility. His experience includes roles at GE Aviation, Castrol, and AECOM Tishman, where he refined his technical and problem-solving skills.

With Generous Support from

In Partnership with

Questions?

Call or email us! You can reach the team at (915) 209-2656 and info@tech-frontier.org.