75 Passion Project Ideas to Try

Projects don't have to be yet another assignment you complete to get a good grade. You can choose one for yourself and work on it simply because it sparks joy.

Passion projects are great for breaking away from the routine, making your life a bit more exciting, and developing the skills you're interested in. On top of that, if you're a college student, a passion project is a good way to showcase your devotion to a certain field, meet like-minded people, and boost your creativity.

Are you starting a passion project for the first time? Don't worry: we've prepared a comprehensive guide on what passion projects are, how to start them, and how to get the desired results.

What Is a Passion Project?

A passion project is a personal undertaking that you work on in your spare time. Unlike school assignments, you're free to choose the project based on your interests and the skills you may want to develop.

Passion projects aren't hobbies or side hustles, however. Unlike a side hustle, you work on your passion project because of your intrinsic motivation, not because you're going to get rewarded for it, financially or otherwise, once you're done. Put simply, you do it for yourself, not for someone else.

Unlike hobbies, passion projects typically produce a tangible result that you can present to the world. For example, if writing is your hobby, completing a novel would be a passion project. Passion projects have clear goals and deliverables, and, more often than not, you share your results publicly.

What Makes for a Good Passion Project for College?

While we prepared a total of 75 project ideas for you below, you're the only one who can choose a suitable one for yourself. That's because good passion project ideas are the ones that cater to your individual interests and preferences.

If we had to sum up what makes for a promising passion project idea, however, we'd say it:

• Aligns with your personal interests. Think about what creates that spark in your mind, be it a hobby or academic curiosity.
• Helps you develop or improve a skill. Want to get better at photography? Making a series for a photo book can help you boost that skill.
• Challenges you. Take an idea that's too easy to complete, and you'll get bored fast.
• Produces a result you can share. If you don't produce a tangible result, it's just a hobby.
• Makes an impact. Not every passion project has to change the world for the better, but some of the greatest ideas involve helping your local community.

Why Start a Passion Project?

If you feel stuck in your daily routine, a passion project is a great way to spice up your days. But that's not the only perk of starting a passion project. It can also help you:

• Develop or improve your skills, including soft skills like creativity and hard skills important for your future career
• Build a portfolio and strengthen your resume (especially in areas like engineering, marketing, and the arts)
• Demonstrate your genuine interest in a certain field during the admissions process
• Meet people interested in the same field as you are, either while you're working on your project or after you share its results
• Cope with the stress of your everyday life by engaging in an enjoyable activity for your own benefit
• Make your life more fulfilling and meaningful by the sheer act of creating something and sharing it with others

How to Find the Right Passion Project for You

While it's important to select the idea that matches your interests, it's not the only criterion you should consider. After all, if you don't have enough time or resources, you probably won't manage to finish it.

So, take into account:

• Your strengths. If you want to showcase your project during admissions or job hunting later on, choose one that plays to your strengths. It'll also help you avoid frustration while you're working on it.
• Time required. Make sure you can dedicate enough time to your project every day or every week. If other commitments get in the way, opt for smaller projects.
• Available resources. Prioritize projects for which you can get some direct (mentorship) or indirect (online guides and resources) help.
• Career or life goals. Connect your project to your future field of work or general life aspirations; it'll help you stay motivated.

How to Start a Passion Project in 8 Steps

Ready to get started? Here's your step-by-step guide for initiating and finishing a passion project:

1. Brainstorm ideas. Use our list below to get inspired. Think about what excites you or gets you into the zone, too. Then, write down all ideas that come to your mind, without filtering them.
2. Choose an idea. Make sure that the idea sparks genuine interest in you and that you can dedicate enough time to it.
3. Set clear goals and deadlines. First, visualize the project's outcome, be it a blog or a piece of art. Then, write down all the actions you need to achieve it. Turn those steps into SMART goals.
4. Plan your project. Establish deadlines for every step to keep your project on track. Visualize the timeline and create a to-do list.
5. Identify and gather resources. What will you need to complete your project? Consider getting a team together, preparing materials or equipment, and fundraising if necessary.
6. Get started. If your passion project is a completely uncharted territory, start with something small (e.g., a proof of concept) to avoid getting overwhelmed.
7. Keep track of your progress. Stay on top of your goals and keep a dedicated to-do list. You can also record what you struggle with or learn in a mini-diary to showcase with your project later on.
8. Share your project. Once it's finished, make a presentation for your project's outcome and put it online or share it during an event.

75 Passion Project Ideas for College Students

Whether you want to kill two birds with one stone by starting a career-oriented project or prefer to use it as an opportunity for personal growth, check out our 75 ideas. We sorted them into five categories to help you land on relevant ideas more easily.

Need more inspiration? If these ideas don't cut it for one reason or another, check out our 150 capstone project ideas!

15 Academic & Career-Oriented Project Ideas

Want to connect your project with your academic passion or add it to your resume later on? Here are 15 passion project ideas that can make a great addition to your portfolio or CV during both admissions and job hunting:

1. Organize financial literacy workshops for fellow students
2. Raise funds for a local social enterprise
3. Record stories from locals for an oral history project
4. Create free worksheets for your favorite subject
5. Set up a YouTube channel with guides in a particular area of knowledge
6. Interview professionals in different occupations to help your peers choose a career
7. Create and publish a zine or journal on a topic you're passionate about
8. Test common misconceptions using the scientific method and publish your results
9. Write a research paper on a topic that recently piqued your interest
10. Organize a science fair on campus
11. Set up a mentorship program for learning new languages
12. Start a blog or personal website on a topic you're interested in
13. Analyze open data to uncover trends and write a paper on your findings
14. Come up with and implement a circular economy project on campus
15. Start a new student club or study group

15 Creative Arts Project Ideas

Want to give your creativity a boost or try something completely new? Here are 15 creative projects you should consider, even if you don't consider yourself a creative person:

1. Write a script for a play or performance and stage it
2. Organize or participate in a poetry slam
3. Start a YouTube channel or blog covering book or movie reviews
4. Organize art workshops for painting with a certain medium (watercolors, oil, etc.)
5. Write a short story, poem, or novel
6. Create your own music track using only the instrument itself or a DAW as well
7. Take a series of photos centered on a topic and share them in an exposition or a book
8. Create a graphic novel or a comic book series
9. Start a webcomic and publish it on social media
10. Make a documentary about a local event, organization, or historical period
11. Shoot a music video for your favorite song or your own track
12. Paint a mural on a campus building
13. Design or paint postcards and give them away or sell them for a good cause
14. Volunteer to take professional photos for an animal shelter or a nonprofit
15. Design and print your own puzzle

15 Project Ideas for Community & Social Impact

Passion projects can be your opportunity to meet new people and get that dopamine boost from the simple act of doing something good for others. Here are 15 ideas you can explore if you're interested in making a social impact or connecting with your community:

1. Develop an online campaign to raise awareness on issues like climate change
2. Organize a workshop to educate your peers on mental health issues
3. Hold a fundraising event for a charity (e.g., a charity auction or a concert)
4. Host a cultural exchange event on campus or in your local community
5. Start a letter-writing campaign to advocate for an issue you care about
6. Hold a book drive to make literature more accessible
7. Organize a nonprofit fair or networking event
8. Set up a local TED-style event to exchange ideas
9. Organize a pen pal service to connect with people in a retirement community
10. Hold a cleanup event in your neighborhood
11. Gather and digitize archive photos and documents for future generations
12. Set up a community garden on campus
13. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or find a way to engage others to volunteer
14. Hold a food drive for a local food bank
15. Set up a time bank to foster connections in your community

15 Personal Development Project Ideas

Looking for a passion project that will help you become a better person and have a more fulfilling life? Here are 15 ideas for personal growth that might interest you:

1. Develop custom workout routines and share them online
2. Learn magic tricks and host a show to demonstrate them
3. Organize a speaking club to learn and practice foreign languages
4. Interview your immediate and extended family to explore your family's history
5. Host a monthly book club for your peers
6. Start a debate club dedicated to discussing relevant societal issues
7. Organize or participate in yoga classes
8. Start a "today I learned" journal and add entries every day for 100 days
9. Host a "life lessons" podcast where you interview experts on personal growth
10. Read 52 fiction or non-fiction books in a year
11. Write a personal manifesto that outlines your values and life goals
12. Track your sleeping or eating habits for a month and improve them
13. Document your life in photos, works of art, or essays
14. Set out to learn a new skill every month for a year
15. Start a digital detox diary to track your experiences with reducing screen time

15 Tech & Innovation Project Ideas

If you're already interested in all things tech, a passion project can take that interest and put it into practice, all while helping you develop or improve your skills. Here are 15 passion projects that you might want to try:

1. Develop an open-source alternative to a popular proprietary app
2. Create interactive data visualizations using analytics tools like Tableau
3. Help a local nonprofit add an AI chatbot to its website
4. Create an immersive learning module using AR/VR and publish it online
5. Complete a coding challenge or participate in a hackathon
6. Build a proof of concept for a renewable energy system
7. Make an educational game or app
8. Build a home automation system using IoT technology
9. Redesign an existing website or app to improve its usability
10. Create a custom figurine or a prototype with a 3D printer
11. Build a unique mini-robot using new or second-hand components
12. Turn old pieces of tech (computers, TVs, phones) into a new device
13. Create a 3D puzzle that can perform a specific function when assembled
14. Build a web app to solve a common problem among your peers
15. Set up a DIY smart home system at your place

How to Make the Most Out of Your Passion Project

Anyone can start a passion project, but not everyone can complete it. If you're one of those who often give up mid-way, here are three tips for you:

• Set deadlines for yourself. It's easy to slack off when you don't have a clear deadline.
• Make yourself accountable. When you're the only one privy to the deadline you set, there's no penalty for procrastinating. So, share your progress online or with your friends.
• Turn it into a team effort. Involving your peers will help you maintain your motivation.

Now, let's say it's time to present your project to the world. How should you go about it? Here are some tips:

• Document your process. Take some photos or write down what inspired you to choose this passion project idea.
• Capture challenges. Take note of your key struggles and how you overcome them while working on the project.
• Reflect on your progress. Describe what you've learned from the experience and the impact your project has made.

In Closing

Passion projects are great not just for making your life more fulfilling, fun, and interesting. They can also help you develop new skills, grow as a person, and enhance your college application, resume, or portfolio.

The most difficult part isn't so much starting a project as finishing it, however. So, make sure you start with small, manageable steps, set clear and achievable goals, and keep yourself accountable. Keep in mind why you decided to start a passion project in the first place to stay motivated!

Remember: a passion project can be one of the most fun and fulfilling things you do for yourself in your life. So, take a chance and go on that adventure!