The White Space Product Development Challenge is a midwest inter-university competition created to strengthen students’ knowledge of design methodologies in product development and provide opportunities to interact with companies and industry professionals
The Chicago Chapter of the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) in conjunction with Northwestern’s Segal Professional Bridge (SPB) are proud to announce the 6th year of the White Space Product Development Challenge.
The PDMA is a global community of professional members whose skills, expertise and experience power the most recognized and respected innovative companies in the world.
PDMA's members include product development and management practitioners, academics and service providers in a variety of industries and knowledge areas, including innovation strategy, portfolio management, new product processes, organizations and teams, tools and metrics, market research, and lifecycle management. The association’s website is PDMA.org.
The association has been operating since 1980 and its first thirty years are closely associated with engineering leaders at the University of Illinois, Chicago. The Chicago Chapter continues the legacy by providing relevant innovation best practices programming to professionals and students.
The White Space Challenge was brought about in 2016 for the express purpose of bringing together talented business, engineering, and design students with midwest companies looking to grow their innovation capacity. We’ve given the students a unique opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and grow their understanding of how design methodologies reinforce product development efforts with customer focus and data to prove demand and find unique market opportunities that can bring about sales and margin growth.
Segal Professional Bridge
Segal Professional Bridge (SPB) is a student-run organization that connects Northwestern students to the broader world of business, through partnerships with professional associations, design firms + companies, mentorship, as well as workshops, and special events. We’ve got a diverse group of undergrad, Masters, and PhD students working hard to provide the best experience for our members. You may notice we come from all over – both in hometown and experience, and we think that’s part of what makes this organization so special. We believe in bringing together people of all backgrounds to learn, create and design together.
Student Organizers
Every year we call upon a few students from SPB to help run the White Space Challenge. Each year, they do an amazing job. They take on a major role in making the Challenge happen, from designing the timeline to soliciting and organizing participants from multiple universities into teams, to organizing the design day and making sure everyone is taken care of.
We wish to thank this year’s student organizers and recognize their contributions Without their extraordinary efforts, the Challenge would never happen. Thank you for your care and talents. It has been wonderful working with you.
Organizers
