Through hands-on learning in SOLIDWORKS and a mindset of curiosity, Vladislavs turned a first-semester course into an award-winning design for first ever PLM Innovators Design Contest.
Before this semester, Vladislavs Lazdāns, a first-year student at Riga University, had never worked with CAD. Now, his SOLIDWORKS skills have earned him first place in the 2025 PLM Innovators Design Contest.
What does it take to win a design contest in your first semester? Vladislavs, the Intelligent Robotics Systems student, shares how curiosity, persistence, and a few new tools made all the difference.
Discovering the Possibilities of SOLIDWORKS
As part of his studies, Vladislavs is diving into programming, electronics, AI, and 3D modelling. One of his courses introduced him to SOLIDWORKS. Though he wasn’t sure what to expect at first, the experience quickly reshaped his thinking.
“Actually before this semester, I wasn’t even thinking about 3D modelling or CAD programs, but graphical communication basics is my favorite course, on the same level as mathematics.”
What stood out to Vladislavs was the ability to design in virtual space and then bring those designs to life.
“We are making so many interesting things. This is what I like from this program, because we can make it in virtual reality and then make it real. For me, it is simple why I enjoy SOLIDWORKS. I can create so many different things with these simple to use tools.”
Designing for the Future
Encouraged by his professor, Vladislavs entered the PLM Innovators Design Contest, an opportunity to apply what he was learning in a real-world context. The yearly contest, hosted by PLM Group, asks students to choose a current product or item that already exists, reimagine how it could work in the future, and then put their design and iteration skills to the test by designing it in SOLIDWORKS.
While Vladislavs had a number of ideas for what to design for the contest, he eventually landed on an idea that combined many of his interests. His winning project imagines a next-generation wall socket that replaces traditional outlets with a more comfortable and space-efficient solution.
The design uses a MagSafe-like magnetic connection, allowing compatible devices to simply snap into place rather than being manually plugged in. The result is a cleaner, more flexible alternative to cluttered outlet clusters.
A Learning Experience That Led to Success
As he developed his design, Vladislavs continued learning, digging deeper into SOLIDWORKS features and problem-solving on the go.
He also discovered new techniques that helped him work more efficiently and gave him transferable knowledge he now uses in his coursework.
“The best part of my project is I improved my experience with SOLIDWORKS. I improved my knowledge. It was very helpful for me to create this design. I can use this knowledge in my course now.”
His enthusiasm for SOLIDWORKS continues to grow, not just because of what he’s learned so far, but because of how much more there is to discover.
“I like to research and explore new tools and features that SOLIDWORKS has because there are so many possibilities how I can make things.”
Advice for Other Students: “Don’t Be Afraid to Create”
Reflecting on his journey, Vladislavs encourages other students who would consider entering the PLM Innovators Design Contest to step outside their comfort zones and embrace the opportunity to create something new.
“Basically, I also was afraid, but I overtook this and participated in this contest. So, I think students should not be afraid to create something and if you can, you should participate.”
Enabling the Next Generation of Innovators
Vladislavs’ story highlights what happens when education, opportunity, and the right tools come together. Through hands-on learning and a mindset of curiosity, he turned a first-semester course into an award-winning design and took his first steps toward a future in robotics, science, and innovation.
