Makers League
New Scratch Tactile Makers League!
Welcome to the Makers League!
Do you enjoy digital design, creativity, and positive impact? Are you a student, educator, maker, or 3D design enthusiast who wants to take your imagination to the next level? This is your moment: join the Makers League, a league in which we will present challenges at different times throughout the school year. We're kicking off with the 1st Design Competition.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert, what really counts is your creativity and desire to learn. Ready for the challenge? Join us and make your mark on accessible design!
1st SCRATCH TACTILE DESIGN CONTEST 2025!
You have until June 10, 2025
The first challenge of the Maker League is the “1st Scratch Tactile Design Contest”!
What is the challenge?
Design innovative elements for the Scratch Tactile universe, a universe designed for children ages 4 and up, as well as children with disabilities up to 16. We're looking for accessible, educational, and creative creations that make a difference. Your designs will become part of the Scratch Tactile universe of the global online community!
Contest rules
1. Objectives of the Contest
The goal of this competition is to foster creativity and 3D design among students, educators, and hobbyists, offering the opportunity to test their skills with a focus on inclusion and digital accessibility. We want participants to explore their creativity and contribute innovative ideas to enrich the world of the Scratch Tactile open community. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced designer, this is your chance to experiment, learn, share, and, above all, have fun creating!
Scratch Tactile is designed to be tactile and feature contrasting colors for students ages 4 to 8 without disabilities, or children of any age with visual, motor, or mild cognitive disabilities. Therefore, designs within the Scratch Tactile universe must consider children from different backgrounds and be educationally inclusive, relevant, and stimulating.
2. Who can participate?
The first competition is open to everyone: students, educators, and fans of 3D and 2D design and creative technologies of any age. All you need is a desire to create and experiment with design. Participate alone or as a team and show off your imagination!
3. Participation Categories
Participants may submit designs in one or more of the following categories:
a) Characters or objects (3D Design) : Create new original characters or remix existing Scratch Tactile characters. Bring new figures to life and make them the protagonists of the most incredible stories. They must be 3D printable.
b) Background or Scenery (2D Design) : Design creative and stimulating backgrounds for Scratch Tactile projects. You can create fantastical landscapes, sustainable cities, math or language learning boards, or any other background that can inspire new adventures or games.
c) Manipulative Arts (screen-free, for younger children) : Creating characters, objects, or backgrounds. Create them with modeling clay, modeling clay, drawing on paper, adding tangible elements, etc. Share a photo of your wonderful creation! (Optionally, if you have a 3D scanner or use mobile apps that scan objects, you can share the scanned design so others can 3D print it!).
d) Other Elements (Digital Design or Combination with Other Technologies) : Design elements or add-ons that can be used to enrich the Scratch Tactile experience. Let your imagination run wild and invent surprising elements, such as: new city-shaped boards, large objects (buildings, structures... for your stories), support elements for inclusion (such as an easel or a support clamp...), or add-ons to make the experience more fun (for example, an AI that recognizes the blocks and proposes challenges...). The Scratch Tactile community should be able to manufacture them using 3D printing, laser cutting, cutter, paper printing, or other similar technologies or within the reach of a general or school audience. You can also submit projects that combine Scratch Tactile with other technologies (for example micro:bit, MakeyMakey, Lego bricks, Artificial Intelligence tools, etc.)
Each participant can submit up to 10 different projects!
The theme for this first edition will be free: fantasy, nature, city, sports, inclusion, local culture or history, arts or music... What's your favorite theme?
4. Format and Requirements of the Designs
For all categories :
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Entries must be original or a variation on existing elements with significant modifications that add creative value.
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Designs must be shared on the Scratch Tactile community platform and made public by the deadline.
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It will be assessed whether the designs are shared in open formats or whether they can be edited openly and freely.
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A brief explanation or narrative about your design, possible uses, inspiration, or the creation process, along with photographs or a short explanatory video, will be considered.
Format for category a) Characters
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Designs must be in 3D format compatible with Scratch Tactile (.obj, .stl, .glb, etc.), preferably in TinkerCAD, Doodle 3D, or some software that can be subsequently edited in an open manner.
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The 3D model design must be printable – We want the design to be 3D printable, and therefore robust and safe (sharp objects must be avoided).
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The base of the object will be a maximum of 3.5 x 3.5 cm and 0.4 cm high, preferably round.
Format for category b) Funds
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Designs must be shared on A4 or US Letter paper, and fit onto Scratch Tactile boards (3x4 or 4x6 squares) if possible.
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Sharing an editable link or the original editable file will be appreciated so the community can adapt and modify it.
Format for category c ) Manipulative arts
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Share photos and explain your creations.
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Explain what materials you used so others can recreate your creations in their schools.
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Optionally: You can scan your physical creation with a mobile phone or 3D scanner and share the 3D design.
Format for category d ) Other elements
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Open and accessible designs that can be edited with free or open source software will be valued.
5. Presentation and Deadlines
Design submissions: April 1 - June 10, 2025.
Participants will be required to upload their designs to the Scratch Tactile community website, including a brief description.
You will need to submit your personal information and optional additional information through a form that will be shared here soon.
Who can participate?
You can participate individually, in teams of 2 to 5 people, or as a class or school.
You can participate with a maximum of 10 projects and win up to 3 prizes per participant.
Don't leave your participation to the last minute! Start designing now—we look forward to your creative designs!
6. Evaluation Criteria
Designs will be evaluated based on different criteria:
Creativity and originality – We look for unique and fun ideas and designs, or those relevant to your particular context.
Fit into the Scratch Tactile environment - How does the design fit into the Scratch Tactile universe and its educational focus?
Focus on inclusion and equity – What educational values does it convey? It considers inclusion for all and equity in its design (universal or adapted).
Project Presentation and Description – Explain your inspiration, creative process, or how your design could be used in other contexts or schools.
Optionally, you can also share with us:
Make It! - Share photos of your 3D or 2D printed designs in real life to inspire the community to create in the physical world and learn more about maker fabrication and DIY!
Social Sharing - You can share your project on social media. If you do, add the hashtags #MakersLeague and #ScratchTactile and tag:
Instagram-Facebook: @scratchjrtactile
X: @scratchjtactile
LinkedIn: Scratch Tactile
7. Awards
Winning designs will receive incredible prizes, including:
1. You will see your featured designs on the official website and Scratch Tactile's social media channels, gaining recognition within the global community! If you give us permission, we'll also publish your name and/or the name of your school.
2. Winning projects may choose one of these prizes:
a) Scratch Tactile Kits: to enable your school, makerspace, or organization to continue to experiment and enhance creative and inclusive skills.
* 5 Scratch Tactile kits will be awarded to the authors of the winning designs.
b) Amazon vouchers so you can continue exploring your passion for design and technology.
* A total of 3 Amazon vouchers of 100 euros and 5 vouchers of 50 euros will be awarded.
You all have a chance to win a prize!
8. Announcement of the winners
The winning projects will be announced in July 2025 through the competition website and official social media.
Not only will we highlight the best designs, but throughout 2025 we will share the most exciting projects with the global community, so everyone can see the talent and dedication of the participants and be inspired.
9. General conditions
Participation is free and open to everyone, from any country, age, and language.
Participants must guarantee that their creations are original and do not infringe third-party rights. If you draw inspiration from or remix existing designs, please thank and acknowledge the original authors and explain your contribution.
Always contribute respectfully, using positive and friendly language. Together we make the Scratch Tactile community a supportive and creative one.
10. Join!
Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your talent and be part of a creative and passionate community! Participate and let your imagination run wild with Scratch Tactile!
Do you have any questions?
We're here to help! If you have any questions, need clarification, or need a suggestion, please email us at info@scratchtactile.org