Authors: – Charlie Chi, Chester Pan, Gigi Chen, Keledoll Liang, Lillian Wen, Lit Liao, Lucy Wang, Max Liang, Reece Guo, Skype Qi 

From July 26 to August 4, 2024, Litchee Lab, supported by Shenzhen International Foundation College (SIFC), successfully hosted the first independent Fab City Challenge centered on high school students. This event provided a unique learning experience for teachers, students, and innovation teams to address sustainable development issues and create viable solutions collaboratively, generating 5 prototypes, 5 videos, 5000+ views, 200+ likes on WeChat video account, besides 1 offline presentation participated by around 30 people.

During the Fab City Challenge, 10 students and mentors formed three teams to explore urban accessibility design, leveraging FabLab resources at SIFC. They conducted research at Nantou Ancient City, a landmark in Shenzhen’s urban renewal, known for preserving cultural diversity and hosting the 2023 Accessibility Living Festival. Diara Lisaia, a former researcher at Vanke Urban Design, guided the teams through the city’s transformation process.

After identifying key issues, the teams visited the Accessibility Research Association, where expert Chen Lan provided insights into the background, challenges, and solutions in accessibility design, which helped shape their research plans.

Back at SIFC, the “Touchable” team developed a customizable Braille navigation system for shopping malls. Skye simulated the challenges of a visually impaired shopper, while Charlie explained their use of 3D-printed Braille labels to improve mall accessibility.

On the final day, teams presented their projects at Shenzhen Library. The “Long Leg” team, with visually impaired engineer Shen Guangrong, launched “100 Challenges for the Visually Impaired,” a video series on inclusive public life. Their first video on rock climbing gained 2,000 views and 100 likes.

The “Tactile Compass” team developed a wearable navigation device using an Arduino microcontroller, motor driver, force sensors, and 3D-printed components. This system provided haptic feedback to guide users with tactile cues, addressing the common issue of delayed auditory navigation. Yang Ye, Secretary General of Shenzhen’s Accessibility Research Association, praised their innovative solution.

Reflecting on the experience, mentor Keledoll shared, “Guiding students is also guiding ourselves. As we reflect on how cities change, we see that no one is an outsider. Our daily activities are intertwined with urban infrastructure, sustainability, and public well-being. Everyone has a role in shaping the future.”

The Fab City Challenge Shenzhen was a learner-centered initiative, providing a valuable opportunity for teachers, sustainable development teams, and the community to collaborate for mutual benefit.

Watch the “After movie”!