There was this annual contest in Popular Mechanics (Science? I was subscribed to both) back when I was I was a kid, and it was basically: build something awesome out of one
and only one sheet of plywood. Looking back on it, it was likely sponsored by one of the major lumber companies, but man, did I ever look forward to that issue. The creative use of every last bit of a simple 4x8 was design crack for my young mind. I still look fondly back on those days.
[edit]: HA! It was Popular Science and sponsored by the APA (American Plywood Association).
Apparently it only ran for 8 years and there's a book on Amazon about it (unfortunately out of print). Dated, sure, but what fun.