DESIGN CHALLENGE NATIONAL FINAL 2025
Exhibitor
CHAIR’S WELCOME
As Chair of the Design Challenge, I am delighted to welcome all finalists at the IMechE’s London headquarters for the 2025 National Finals.
This year has seen a record 75 teams take up the challenge, and from these, seven Foundation teams and six Advanced teams have progressed to the finals.
To all our student finalists of engineering and technical disciplines from across the country, I extend my personal congratulations; you are the true protagonists of this event and it is my privilege to witness this showcase of skill, creativity, and determination. You represent the future of engineering, and I urge you to embrace this opportunity fully and enjoy the chance to show off your hard work.
The Design Challenge demands much more than technical knowledge. It requires students to form multidisciplinary teams, to draw on both classroom learning and selfdirected study, and to harmonise those skills into a cohesive, high-performing project. From initial planning to final execution, competitors must translate theory into practice, communicate their vision effectively, and defend their work under the scrutiny of professional engineers, potential investors, and their peers — all before proving their designs in action.
The committee and I are also delighted to see growing participation from technical colleges, UTCs, and extracurricular programmes across the nation — a testament to the wide appeal and impact of the Design Challenge.
Behind every team’s success, there are lecturers, lab technicians, administrators, and volunteers who have gone beyond their day-today responsibilities to support and encourage you. Please share your results, your achievements, and your joy with them, for they are part of your success story.
My best of luck to you all and I hope the skills, experiences, and memories you have gained will serve you well in your future careers.
Davide Migliorini IMechE Fellow member CEng FIMechE FEANI EUR ING IOSH
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE
The challenge involves all of the necessary aspects of the Engineering discipline; from technical concept and design to final build and test, while managing budgets, teamwork, presenting results, and meeting a final deadline. The regional heats and the national final in London add a competitive element, giving the students a real insight to alternatively developed solutions and improving their communication skills, confidence and experience significantly beyond what would normally be gained in a typical lab practical.
The Design Challenge covers the key requirements of a Professional Engineer and gives the students an insight into what will be expected of them when they graduate.
Dr David Ball CEng FI MechE Eur Ing Founder Design Challenge
PROGRAMME
Marble Hall
09:00 Registration and Refreshments
Teams to hand in final presentations USBs and prepare to display posters and devices for judging Lecture Theatre
10:00 Formal opening
Davide Migliorini, Chair, Design Challenge
10:15 Keynote address
Matt Garside, President, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
10:25 Outline of the day
Anna Chamberlain – Webber, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
10:30
Scrutineering and Design Excellence reviews will take place during lunch
13:45 Briefing for Main Challenge
Anna
Marble Hall
16:00
Networking Refreshment Break
Judges deliberations will take place Lecture Theatre
16:30 Awards ceremony
Hosted by Davide Migliorini, Chair, Design Challenge
17:00
17:15
Closing Address and Vote of Thanks
Matt Lister, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Closing Remarks
Matt Lister, Head Judge, Design Challenge Marble Hall 17:20 Drinks reception 18:30 Close of Event
COMPETING TEAMS
Team Name University Competing Class
Affinity Sheffield Hallam Advanced
RGU Mechanizers Robert Gordon Advanced
UCLAN 1 University of Lancashire Advanced
Admans Plug University East London Advanced
FrozOhm Bournemouth Advanced
SUA1 Swansea University Advanced
DMEM University of Srathclyde Foundation
MMU1 Manchester Metropolitan Foundation
UCL Team A University College London Foundation
UCL Team B University College London Foundation
Krypton
Spare Tyre Squad
Bournemouth & Poole College Foundation
Bournemouth University Foundation
SUF1 Swansea University Foundation
Established for well over a decade and involving thousands of students each year, these offer young engineers an opportunity to apply their engineering knowledge and skills while working on a fun, practical, and compevtitive project that is as close to industry as possible.
Our student challenges are designed to complement your academic studies while offering:
• Hands-on experience of solving real-world engineering problems.
• Teamwork and leadership development through collaborative projects.
• Networking opportunities with professionals, peers, and potential employers.
• Industry recognition at an international level
Formula Student Design Challenge
Railway Challenge
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Learn more about Ansys Student Team Partnerships at ansys.com/teams.
MEET THE STEERING COMMITTEE
From the perspective of an employer, the kind of skills that are so necessary in the industry is being displayed in the Design Challenge. I wanted to work with the Challenge committee to help drive this commitment to developing graduates who are ready to hit the ground running once they graduate.
Bridget Ogwezi Senior Education Development Manager, ANSYS
Bridget Ogwezi a is part of the Ansys Academic team, supporting engineering education globally. She holds a B.Eng in Civil Engineering from the University of Surrey and an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Reading, in partnership with BuroHappold Engineering. At Ansys, she collaborates with educators in engineering and sustainability, managing strategic partnerships with academic institutions to develop the next generation of engineers.
Davide has 22 years of experience in automotive, starting from racing into volume production passenger cars, and 4 in aerospace, on mechanical design of electric motors and controllers.
The early years spent as industrial consulting, designer and support engineer in motorcycle Superbike, Super Sport, Endurance and finally in F1 were instrumental to gain pace, weight reduction and simple design skills.
The Design Challenge stimulates the students probably for the first time in their career; a real- life exercise, where technical requirements shall be fulfilled though the manufacturing and testing of a product. The students need to work as a team, use cross-functional skills, find compromises, read technical specification and fit within a budget, delivering in a time constrained window: it cannot get more real!
Davide Migliorini
IMechE Fellow member CEng FIMechE FEANI EUR ING IOSH
While working on passenger cars for series production as Principal Engineer, Davide was main originator of 3 patents.
Davide’s vision is that people come first, by building their confidence through professional development and new technologies explorations. With a cultural background in Italy, UK and Spain, Davide could be agile in a multicultural environment.
MEET THE STEERING COMMITTEE
During my career, I have been involved with recruitment many times. I always look for a balanced CV with decent academic qualifications mixed with some applications of engineering. I have always preferred the guy or girl who has got their hands dirty or got involved in some project to improve something or make something better, because that is at the heart of what we do. Making things better.
Dave is a chartered Mechanical Engineer and a Fellow of the IMechE. He was awarded a degree by Silsoe College Cranfield and an MSc from Bolton University. Dave’s specialism is the design, manufacture, testing and approval of specialist vehicles including Trucks, Buses, Coaches, Minibuses, WAV’s, vehicles for the Emergency Services and for the Funeral Industry, rising to Director of Engineering. Dave also enjoyed the opportunity to work in the Oil and Gas Industry before returning to Automotive as a consultant and employee.
Dave has been involved with numerous design and make challenges including STEM events and Formula Student as well as the Design Challenge. The latter is probably nearest aligned to his most recent career path where an engineering challenge is set, budgeted and time restricted; followed by a completed design manufacturing and assembly before proving and sign off. Nothing gives Dave greater joy than seeing a design through from concept to production.
The challenge involves all the necessary aspects of the Engineering discipline, from technical concept and design to final build and test. The Design Challenge covers the key requirements of a Professional Engineer and gives the students an insight into what will be expected of them when they graduate.
CEng FIMechE, EUR ING Founder
Dr David Ball an Accomplished Industrialist, Chartered Mechanical Engineer & Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Current Positions with the Institution as the Founder of the Design Challenge & Chairman of the Power Industries Division North West Centre.
Since 2005 David has become heavily involved with the IMechE and has been associated with numerous voluntary activities over the years.
He founded the Challenge in 2007/2008 as a way of exposing undergraduate engineers to the real world of Engineering, nurturing ingenuity to produce a design solution to an Engineering requirement.
Dave Terry
CEng FIMechE, BSc MSc
Dr David Ball
MEET THE STEERING COMMITTEE
During my career, I have been involved with recruitment many times. I always look for a balanced CV with decent academic qualifications mixed with some applications of engineering. I have always preferred the guy or girl who has got their hands dirty or got involved in some project to improve something or make something better, because that is at the heart of what we do. making things better.
Matt Lister
BEng MSc PGDip psc(j) MA CMarEng FIMarEST
Head Judge
Matt Lister joined the Royal Navy as a University Bursar in 1998, completing a Mechanical Engineering Degree at Southampton University, before attending Britannia Royal Naval College as a Direct Graduate Entrant in 2004. Although Young Officer time was spent with HMS ALBION and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, he streamed early as a Submariner and remained within the SSN force throughout his career, serving as Assistant Engineer Officer in SWIFTSURE Class and then as Head of Department with HMS ASTUTE.
Matt has worked within the DREADNOUGHT Next Generation Nuclear Propulsion Programme and within the Submarine Flotilla as Staff Marine Engineer Officer to COMSUBFLOT. Transferring to the Civil Service in the Summer of 2024, he took over as the Head of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, within the MoD Defence Safety Authority. Matt continues to support academia as Head Judge for the IMechE University Design Challenge.
This is my first time attending the National Final, and I’m excited to see the creativity, technical skills, and teamwork that the next generation of engineers will bring to the competition. I know how valuable it is to engage with real-world design challenges, and I wish I’d had more opportunities of this kind during my studies. It’s inspiring to know the competition will continue to grow and the role it plays in preparing the next generation of engineers for the challenges ahead.
Jack Mason EngTech MIMechE, is a Mechanical Design Engineer at Babcock International Group, specialising in naval auxiliary systems design. Jack volunteers for the Institution as the Regional Strategy Board & Western Region Young Members Representative on the IMechE Young Members Board. He has been volunteering with the Institution since 2018, when he joined the local Devon & Cornwall Area Committee while studying for an MEng degree in Mechanical
Jack Mason EngTech MIMechE RSB YMB
Engineering at the University of Plymouth. Through his roles in the Member’s Network, he supports the professional development of engineers, champions STEM outreach, and hopes to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in engineering. Jack is proud to attend the IMechE’s Design Challenge National Final, where he will witness the talent and innovation of future engineers as they showcase their solutions to this year’s challenge.
Ansys
The challenge involves all of the necessary aspects of the Engineering discipline; from technical concept and design to final build and test, while managing budgets, teamwork, presenting results, and meeting a final deadline. The regional heats and the national final in London add a competitive element, giving the students a real insight to alternatively developed solutions and improving their communication skills, confidence and experience significantly beyond what would normally be gained in a typical lab practical.
The Design Challenge covers the key requirements of a Professional Engineer and gives the students an insight into what will be expected of them when they graduate.
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www.imeche.org/climatechange
IMechE Annual Dinner 2025
27 November 2025, Boiler Shop, Newcastle
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www.imeche.org/annualdinner