{"id":2542,"date":"2024-06-19T09:58:27","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T13:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/?page_id=2542"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:21:25","slug":"stage-machine-design-competition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/stage-machine-design-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Stage Machine Design Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n    <div  class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero has-black-background\">\n        <div class=\"section has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero__content\">\n                \n                                                        <h1 class=\"second-level-page-heading purdue-home-diagonal-hero__header\">Stage machine design CHALLENGE<\/h1>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero__subtext\">\n\n                        \n<p>The Stage Machine Design Challenge (SMDC) brings together theatre technology students from colleges and universities to share the excitement of designing and building the machines that bring stage effects to life. The challenge the design journey that leads from inception to prototype and seeks to inspire the next generation of mechanical designers and engineers who will invent new experiences for live entertainment.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                \n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/IMG_0152.jpg\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-button-bar has-black-background \">\n    <ul>\n                    <li>\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvent.me%2F02dxYe&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cryanni%40purdue.edu%7C243ab43e707c4fb7e49d08de73cf0c91%7C4130bd397c53419cb1e58758d6d63f21%7C1%7C0%7C639075530283849515%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=sjSUNfd%2FFhQgFVZ1s3UEdvhMdomhyaPdG%2FXECB8OON8%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                            <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-title\">Register Your Team!<\/p>\n                                                                <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-content\">Registration is easy &#8211; you just need the names of your team members (between 2-4 people), coach name, and school name. Registration fee is only $25 per person and includes your event t-shirt and lunch. <\/p>\n                                    <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  id=\"about\" class=\"section has-padding-top-small has-padding-bottom-small  page-layout-wide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                <div class=\"tagged-header-container tagged-header-container--content-block tagged-header-container-gold\">\n            <h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">What is the Stage Machine Design challenge?<\/h2>\n        <\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>Stage Machine Design Challenge<\/strong>&nbsp;was first launched at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2005. At that time it was known as the \u201cMidwest Machine Design Competition,\u201d and while the intended group of participants were graduate and undergraduates studying theatre technology, the design challenges focused less on theatre-specific themes and more on robust machine challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impetus for the event in 2005 arose from a desire to provide an opportunity for theatre students to explore the mechanical design process in a fun, hands-on way. After a brief hiatus, the Stage Machine Design Challenge returned in 2019 with a new look and an expanded purpose. The fundamental goal is still the same, of course: provide students of theatre technology an opportunity to explore the mechanical design process. Beyond that, we hope the Stage Machine Design Challenge can become a vehicle to ignite a passion for stage machinery and mechanical design, particularly amongst theatre undergraduate students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>mission<\/strong>&nbsp;of the Stage Machine Design Challenge comprises four major foci:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encouraging good engineering design practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exploring non-traditional solutions to theatrical challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fostering excitement about the integration of engineering and live entertainment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing collaborative relationships among peers and colleagues across the country<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To serve that mission, the Stage Machine Design Challenge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Imagines an exciting and complex Stage Machine Design Challenge for teams to address each year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hosts the annual Challenge Event, bringing students together to observe and demonstrate their designs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifies industry professionals to serve as judges at the annual Challenge Event<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides teaching and learning materials to support faculty and students in exploring mechanical design and developing a framework for addressing the Design Challenge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\"><strong><em>CHOOSE CHALLENGE LOCATION (Purdue, UConn, FSU, or UNLV) AT REGISTRAITON<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fdcfc74e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-25\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvent.me%2F02dxYe&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cryanni%40purdue.edu%7C243ab43e707c4fb7e49d08de73cf0c91%7C4130bd397c53419cb1e58758d6d63f21%7C1%7C0%7C639075530283849515%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=sjSUNfd%2FFhQgFVZ1s3UEdvhMdomhyaPdG%2FXECB8OON8%3D&amp;reserved=0\">Register your team now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-link-cards \">\n\n<div class=\"section has-none-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-small\">\n<div class=\"container header-wrap\">\n<div class=\"columns is-mulitline align-bottom\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n    <div class=\"tagged-header-container  tagged-header-container--gold\">\n    <h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">SMDC Competition Locations<\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"column is-narrow mobile-hidden\">\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-link-cards__cards\">\n            <div class=\"columns is-multiline\">\n                                <div class=\"column is-4-desktop is-4-widescreen is-3-fullhd is-half-tablet\">\n                <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--story\"><figure class=\"image is-16by9\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/V-Web-Card-Logo.png\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center has-no-excerpt\"><p class=\"purdue-home-cta-grid__card-title\">Fusion Studio for Entertainment and Engineering<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n                                <div class=\"column is-4-desktop is-4-widescreen is-3-fullhd is-half-tablet\">\n                <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--story\"><figure class=\"image is-16by9\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/UConn-Card-Logo.png\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center has-no-excerpt\"><p class=\"purdue-home-cta-grid__card-title\">Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n                                <div class=\"column is-4-desktop is-4-widescreen is-3-fullhd is-half-tablet\">\n                <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--story\"><figure class=\"image is-16by9\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/UNLV-Card-Logo.png\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center has-no-excerpt\"><p class=\"purdue-home-cta-grid__card-title\">Department of Theatre<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n                                <div class=\"column is-4-desktop is-4-widescreen is-3-fullhd is-half-tablet\">\n                <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--story\"><figure class=\"image is-16by9\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/fsu-seal-full-color.png\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center has-no-excerpt\"><p class=\"purdue-home-cta-grid__card-title\">School of Theatre<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n                            <\/div><\/div>\n        \n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-button-bar has-gold-background \">\n    <ul>\n                    <li>\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button\" href=\"smdc-current-challenge\" target=\"_self\">\n                                            <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-title\">Current Challenge<\/p>\n                                                        <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button\" href=\"smdc-rules-and-registration\" target=\"_self\">\n                                            <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-title\">Rules and Registration<\/p>\n                                                        <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button\" href=\"smdc-past-competitions\" target=\"_self\">\n                                            <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-title\">Past Events<\/p>\n                                                        <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button\" href=\"support-smdc\" target=\"_self\">\n                                            <p class=\"purdue-home-button-bar__button-title\">Support SMDC<\/p>\n                                                        <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2542","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2542"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2542\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3525,"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2542\/revisions\/3525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.purdue.edu\/fusion-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}