The FabConnectHer STEAM Challenge invited every team to weave cultural stories into modern design, and Team A embraced that spirit from the very first sketch. Their project grew from shared conversations about symbols, traditions and the powerful role of women in shaping cultural knowledge.
The early days at Creative Spark were filled with energy. After the warm Irish welcome of crafting Crios Belts, the students built a moodboard anchored in elements of their heritage. Their thinking broadened quickly, especially during the activity exploring inspiring women in STEAM. This helped them decide what message they wanted their prototype to express: a tribute to cultural resilience and unity.
Midweek inspiration struck again during the visit to Newgrange and the Battle of the Boyne site. Seeing structures built thousands of years ago encouraged Team A to deepen their concept and think about how symbols can travel from the past into the future.
By Wednesday afternoon, laser cutters and 3D printers were running. The team refined shapes, adjusted patterns and worked through small technical challenges with determination. Their mentoring session that day brought new confidence, as the group shared experiences about navigating STEAM as young women.
On the final morning, they polished every detail and prepared a pitch that flowed smoothly and confidently. The judges admired the thoughtful connection between heritage and innovation in their work.
Watch Team A’s prototype come alive in their video presentation.
