Design & Entrepreneurship
Course // Competition Studio
Design and entrepreneurship are intertwined as both demand creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. Successful designers use entrepreneurial thinking to create products that resonate with users, blending aesthetics, problem-finding, and functionality.
The Love’s Cup, formerly the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, is a statewide collegiate business plan competition that simulates the real-world process of researching a market, writing a business plan and making a presentation to potential investors.
In the Cup’s 16-year history: nearly 2,458 college students have taken the challenge; $2.1M in cash has been awarded along with $155K in scholarships and $250K in fellowships; it has produced more than 740 innovative ideas from 36 campuses statewide; and more than 38 plans have turned into a scalable business and become i2E clients.
UCO Design students have consistency dominated the Small Business Division.
Amidad: First Place Winner $10,000
In 2022, UCO School of Design Team, Amidad claimed a $10,000 cash prize for first place in the Small Business Division with its app-based concept providing undocumented immigrants and refugees with resources and information on legal rights. Amidad team leader Esther Velasco led team members Sofia Arenas, Nichole Burroughs, and Ashley Guerrero to first place with advisors Amy Johnson and McKenna Sanderson.
What is Amidad?
Amidad is made up of two components; a resource app with easy access to immigrant-related tools and information, and an Alert Device to be used in emergencies. The app has an easily navigable interface with important information. Members sign up and only disclose their names and pronouns to keep both immigrant members and volunteers safe.
Immigration hot-lines, local lawyers, forums, and updated, relevant news feeds are available in the app.
The forum is public, anonymous, and moderated to allow app users to spread the necessary information. The moderation focuses on implementing our policy to protect identities and our disclaimer agreement not to spread information that should be provided by a certified lawyer or relevant scholar.
The critical app features that tie into the Alert Device relate specifically to situations involving ICE, such as raids or warrant less violations at a person’s home. Once activated, the alert device sends a text message to designated lawyers, family, friends, and local volunteers to come to observe and record the interaction.
Print Magazine Citizen Designer, Honorable Mention
Hamkke: Second Place Winner $8,000
Hamkke, another team from the School of Design, claimed second place in the Small Business Division. Hamkke team leader Nhi Pham led team members Emily Falls and Marissa Perez to second with advisors Amy Johnson and McKenna Sanderson. Hamkke is a mobile education app that helps parents give the "birds and bees" talk to kids between the ages of 2 to 12.
Empowering Natives: First Place Interview Winner, Third Place $7,000 Overall
The third team lead by Sonya Mueller in collaboration with Lexi Dickens and Hayden Rogers, Empowering Natives was named Interview Winner in the Small Business Product category. Advisors were Amy Johnson and McKenna Sanderson, UCO School of Design.
Tough Cookie: First Place Interview Winner, Second Place Overall $13,000
2020: University of Central Oklahoma students celebrated success at the Oklahoma Love’s Entrepreneur Cup Business Plan Competition, taking home first- and second-place finishes at the virtual event held in May.
Three students from Central’s School of Design brought home first place in the “Retail” category of the BankFirst Small Business Interview Division and second place in the Small Business Division.
The team, Tough Cookie, includes Katherine Pitzer, a senior graphic design major from Edmond, Oklahoma; Morgan Vogt, a senior graphic design major from Okarche, Oklahoma; and, Marissa Perez, a junior graphic design major from Oklahoma City.
Below is Kate’s Case Study:
Bright Eyed & Brave
2018: UCO Design’s first foray into the Love’s Cup competition! So proud of this team; they took a huge risk, really committed, and paved the way.
“University of Central Oklahoma students recently placed in the top five at this year’s Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup, a statewide collegiate business plan competition that simulates the real-world process of researching a market, writing a business plan and making a presentation to potential investors.
Three students from Central’s Department of Design brought home first place in the "Retail” category of the Small Business Interview Division and second place in the Small Business Division.
The team, called Bright Eyed and Brave, is composed of Kenzie McFeely, Hayden Magar and Amanda Dely.”
No photos on this one, it’s in real life development. When Kenzie shares it, I’ll share it…just know that it’s sooooo goooood!