BKFK: Design Squad Trash to Treasure Competition, Sponsored by Intel

Max's invention, “The Home Dome” redefines a makeshift dwelling. Entirely made of Styrofoam peanuts stuffed into discarded plastic bags, it is a round dome in the shape of a Mongolian yurt.

The Home Dome includes a built-in bed that anchors the dwelling down by the weight of the person inside. It helps the environment by using one of the most bulky and difficult-to-dispose types of trash that our society produces and transforms it into homes.

Read More about Max

We are pleased to announce the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the 2008 Design Squad Trash to Treasure Competition

Max Wallack of Natick, MA took top honors for his “Home Dome” innovation, which is made primarily from discarded plastic bags, and seeks to provide temporary housing for those in need of shelter, while simultaneously addressing the problem of expanding landfills.

On February 17th, 2009 Max received a check for $10,000 from Intel at Continuum, an award-winning international design and innovation consultancy in Newton, MA. In addition to his cash prize, Max received a Dell laptop and spent a day helping build a prototype of his “Home Dome” at the development lab in Continuum.

Watch: Max's Day at Continuum
Max presents his invention to the U.S. Senate at D.C.

About Design Squad:
Design Squad is a reality competition show aimed at kids and people of all ages who like reality or how-to television. Its goal is to get viewers excited about engineering! Over 13 episodes, eight high school contestants tackle engineering challenges for real world clients—from creating cardboard furniture projects for IKEA to designing a gravity bike (no pedals or cranks!) for Extreme Game champion Tom Whalen. In the final episode, the top two scorers battle for the Grand Prize—a $10,000 college scholarship from the Intel® Foundation. The Design Squad Web site goes “behind the scenes” with cast interviews, photos, outtakes, and the inside scoop on each Design Squad challenge. Online, visitors can watch full-length streams of Design Squad episodes, share their thoughts, and learn more about the role of engineers in society.

About Intel:
The Intel Foundation has been developing and funding educational and charitable programs since 1989. Its mission is to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to fuel tomorrow's innovators, with a particular focus on inspiring women and under-represented minorities to be full participants in these fields. The Foundation, funded solely by donations from Intel Corporation, supports Intel employee volunteerism and philanthropy as part of Intel's efforts to be a good corporate citizen both locally and globally.