Dear participants,
The submissions period is now closed. We thank everyone who has entered the competition and shared their projects, ideas, designs and aspirations. We now start the evaluations period with the jury that will last through February.
In March, we will put up top-50 entries for a month-long public vote at a bespoke section of this website. After that we will start announcing the winners.
To keep up with the updates, you may want to sign up to one of BE OPEN's social media channels: Facebook @beopenfoundation or Twitter/Telegram @beopenfuture.
On June 22, 2023 the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, France. In the conclusion of his speech, he said the following words meant specifically for the younger generations:
“My generation has clearly failed in many respects – especially on the climate crisis. I count on your generation to keep turning up the heat on global leaders. Hold the powerful accountable. Sound the alarm. Stand up for each other and our planet, and human rights. And build a better future – rooted in solidarity, equality and sustainability.”
DESIGNING FUTURES 2050 is an international design competition, developed and held by BE OPEN and our partners. It is open to students and recent graduates/young professionals internationally.
The competition hopes to reach a number of goals:
- to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and the necessity of urgent action among the young and upcoming professionals
- to involve younger creatives into adjusting and updating the SDG agenda in the light of the realities of today, and encourage them to take a larger part in the actualization and implementation of the realistic sustainable actions plan
- to encourage and reward creation of innovative solutions by younger creatives, for a more prosperous and sustainable future
- to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs through identifying, showcasing and promoting creative ideas that support global shift to a sustainable and efficient future.
Design-thinking has a crucial role to play as an instrument or vehicle for the implementation of a more sustainable future. BE OPEN and all of the stakeholders involved in this international competition programme strongly believe that creativity is integral in the shift to sustainable existence.
BE OPEN strives to make the competition programme more beneficial for students and graduates:
- the participants can expand their knowledge in sustainability matters and futures studies
- the participants can compete for money prizes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000
- the participants can get international publicity as talented creatives and innovators
- the winners will go on a trip to a major international UNSDG-related event and pitch their ideas to international audiences
DESIGNING FUTURES 2050 has three categories for the submissions to relate to, to help contestants choose their approach to the challenge:
- Battling the Problems of Today
- Creating the Visions of Tomorrow
- Adjusting the Sustainable Development Goals
Thus, the major question that the competition poses against students and graduates all over the world is: “What changes, adjustments and introductions can be done to help achieve the wellbeing for all mankind formulated by the sustainable development goals by 2050?”
PRIZES
BE OPEN will reward the best work with the following monetary prizes as well as with honorary mentions.
- First prize — €5,000
- Second prize — €3,000
- Third prize — €2,000
- BE OPEN Founder’s Choice prize — €3,000
- Public Vote prize — €2,000
TIMELINE
- Open for submissions — September 15, 2024
- Deadline for submissions — January 31st, 2025
- Announcement of winners — March to April 2025
- Celebration of winners — TBC
Please read more about the competition in ABOUT →