Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Revamp Your Components with BGA Reballing
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Balancing Speed and Flexibility Without Sacrificing Control
SMT Perspectives & Prospects: Artificial Intelligence Part 6: Data Module 1
IPC Design Competition Winner Announced at IPC APEX EXPO 2022
February 10, 2022 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The inaugural IPC Design Competition at IPC APEX EXPO 2022 resulted in a win for Rafal Przeslawski, Xilinx, whose printed circuit board design earned him the top prize.
In late 2021, printed board design engineers from around the world were invited to compete in IPC’s inaugural PCB Design Competition. Intended to be accessible for anyone with a design tool and an internet connection, this new competition would challenge designers in two heats: an at-home, 30-day full board build, and an ‘in-person’ four-hour routing challenge at IPC APEX EXPO 2022.
In the preliminary heat, 14 designers from all corners of the globe – from India to the Netherlands; Oregon to the United Kingdom – were provided with a schematic, a component BOM, and scope of work document, and were asked to design a board that was compliant with IPC’s various board design standards. The given schematic was representative of a motor control board that included features intended to test the competitors’ understanding of various design methodologies.
Out of 14 preliminary competitors, three finalists were chosen to compete at the finals: Elliot Wakefield, a hobbyist based in the United States, Nick Wallis, an electronics engineer at Tribosonics in the United Kingdom, and Rafal Przeslawski, a hardware development engineer at Xilinx based in Germany.
The finals heat took place at IPC APEX EXPO 2022. The competitors were challenged to complete the design of a nearly complete board – missing only design rules, routing, and a few components left in the margins. “With only four hours to do so, completing the board was a careful balance of thoughtful component placement optimization and design rule definition, and brass-tacks routing,” explained Patrick Crawford, manager, design standards and related industry programs. “The board design was that of a functional, programmable blinky-badge that was actually fabricated and on display at IPC APEX EXPO. In other words, unlike the preliminary heat, the final design was representative of a real-world, functional application.”
At the end of the four hours, each competitor delivered their project file to the judges, who deliberated for two hours, ultimately crowning Rafal Przeslawski as the IPC Design Competition 2022 champion.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Industry Veteran Dr. Helen Song Joins Celera Semiconductor to Lead Product Design
10/28/2025 | PRNewswireCelera Semiconductor, the analog industry leader using AI to automate the entire product development flow, today announced that Dr. Helen Song has joined the company as vice president of Product Design.
Mapping the EV Landscape: Markets, Platforms, and Powertrains
10/28/2025 | Stanton Rak, SF Rak Companye-Mobility is the defining transformation of 21st-century transportation. As legacy OEMs, startups, and governments race to electrify vehicle fleets, the landscape of e-Mobility is expanding into previously unimaginable territory. But with innovation comes complexity, and with complexity, a need for systems that are not only high-performing but also reliably engineered for the long haul. Understanding the diversity and scale of the EV marketplace is essential to grasping the reliability challenges ahead.
Cadence Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results
10/28/2025 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Revenue of $1.339 billion, compared to revenue of $1.215 billion in Q3 2024
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Heat—The Hidden Villain of Power Electronics
10/28/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonIf electricity were a group of college students, then power electronics and the PCB designers who dive into it would insist on driving the car on every road trip because they know the car inside and out—they’re the students with jumper cables in the trunk, a tire pressure gauge in the glove box, and snacks stashed under the seat. While the others argue over playlists and directions, power electronics is busy ensuring the alternator doesn’t fry, the headlights don’t dim, and everyone reaches the destination with fuel still in the tank.
American Standard Circuits Launches 50th 77-Second Webinar
10/27/2025 | American Standard CircuitsAnaya Vardya, President and CEO of American Standard Circuits/ASC Sunstone Circuits is pleased to announce that they have recently unveiled their 50th 77-second webinar.