Students were asked to design a recyclable consumer electronics product that was engaging and simple for consumers.

FORBES: The Road To A Recyclable Laptop

That could explain why successful consumer electronics companies like Apple and Google limit outsourcing to manufacturing, keeping product design, branding and marketing, and after-sales service in-house.

FORBES: How Hewlett-Packard And Dell Destroyed Their PC Advantage ... Piece-By-Piece

Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.

ENGADGET: Polaroid announces 7-inch kids tablet sporting Android 4.0, looks to show it off at CES