how to apply
Do you have a design proposal that contributes to a just and circular economy? Apply by 11 January 2023 for a chance at winning €10.000 in funding, and a tailor-made development programme to turn your project into a reality. This challenge is open to students, designers and creative entrepreneurs from all countries.
1. REGISTER AN ACCOUNT
To submit your project you’ll need a What Design Can Do account. Registering is simple, and requires only an email address and a password. Do you already have a What Design Can Do account? Login here.
2. CREATE YOUR PROFILE
Once you are logged into your account, you can create your profile. We would love to know more about you (and your team)! Let us know who your project leader is, what you do, and upload a photo or logo of your company.
3. UPLOAD YOUR PROJECT
Once your profile is created, you can submit a project. Open the submission form and fill in the details, starting with the project title and description. Then, tell us: which category are you applying for? What is the stage of development of the project, and who is part of your team?
4. LANGUAGE
We ask that you submit your project in English. However, don’t worry too much about your grammar and spelling. We understand that not everyone is a native speaker!
5. PENDING PHASE
Once you’ve completed your submission, it will be reviewed by a WDCD moderator. You will receive a notification as soon as it has been approved, or if there is any information that needs to be amended.
6. EDIT YOUR PROJECT
After it has been approved by a WDCD moderator, you will be able to edit your submission at any time during the Open Call (until 11 January 2023). You will also be able to set your project visibility to ‘public’ or ‘private’. These settings can be changed at any time.
If you run into a problem, please contact us at challenge@whatdesigncando.com.
What are we looking for?
The Make it Circular Challenge is all about designing circular ways of living that help us tackle the root of the climate crisis. We are looking for ambitious, design-led initiatives and startups that reduce carbon emissions by cutting waste and rewriting the relationship between people, the planet and all the species who call it home. At the end of the open call, an international jury will review the best and brightest proposals according to the following criteria.
1. IMPACT – MAKE IT COUNT!
What can you say about the (potential) impact of your idea or initiative? Here, you can help the jury understand the difference you are trying to make by offering some quantitative and/or qualitative data to back it up. Scroll on for a few impact ‘indicators’ you might want to consider while making your submission. You’ll find a more complete breakdown of all indicators in the downloadable design briefing.
- Environmental impacts. Are you able to estimate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that is produced (or prevented) by your initiative? Can you demonstrate the amount of resources and/or waste that it saves? If applicable, can you tell us about how your initiative regenerates — rather than depletes or pollutes — our natural ecosystems?
- Cultural impacts. Does your initiative have the potential to influence policies about sustainable production and consumption? How do you imagine it will shift people’s habits and/or attitudes? Can you describe the impact it might have on the way society values things like novelty, growth, and throwaway culture?
- Social impacts. Are you able to demonstrate how your initiative impacts the people that make up its supply chain — and beyond? How do you advocate for diversity and inclusion in your organisation? Does your design account for ideas and experiences outside the dominant Western narrative?
2. DESIGN & CREATIVITY – MAKE IT AWESOME!
Here, we want to know what makes your design exciting and extraordinary. Is the idea fresh and innovative? If it builds on an existing solution in any way?Do you have good visuals to make your story more tangible and engaging?
We’ll also be looking for how you track or measure the impact of your design along its entire value chain. What improvements in resource extraction, production, distribution, consumption and waste handling can you attribute to the design of your project?
3. FEASIBILITY – MAKE IT REAL!
We believe that the best solutions are rooted in real challenges and opportunities. What can you tell us about the specific context of your initiative? What kind of research have you done into the communities or economies you are working with? Have consulted experts to ensure your proposal is feasible: technically, economically, politically and socially?
4. SCALABILITY – MAKE IT BIG!
This criteria is all about how your initiative — and its impact — might evolve in the future. Maybe your initiative is small and developed for a specific location or community, but does it have the potential to be scaled up to benefit the many? Do you have a long-term vision for your initiative?
5. TEAMWORK – MAKE IT TOGETHER!
Lastly, we are looking for initiatives that invest in collaborative relationships and networks. You may have started your project alone, but have you surrounded yourself with the right people to make it happen? Are you part of a team or in the process of assembling a team that is up to the job?
stages of development
The Make it Circular Challenge is open to projects in different stages of development — from new ideas to existing enterprises. Which stage describes your submission best?
Idea stage
Submissions in this stage display a compelling and convincing vision, but only a rough proof of concept. Your team may be small, but you are ready to take your project to the next level.
Testing stage
Submissions in this stage are more developed. There is a proof of concept, a core team and a long-term vision. Your focus is on developing a high quality product, service or system, and on building a solid business case to make it a success.
Evolve stage
Submissions in this stage are considered existing social or creative enterprises. Your focus is on sustainable growth: expanding market or public adoption, strengthening your organisation, securing funds and increasing impact.