‘The collaboration with IKEA Foundation and Autodesk Foundation is unique’, says WDCD founder Richard van der Laken. ‘We don’t just reach out to the global creative community to come up with solutions, together we also have real developing power.’ Today, on Earth Day, WDCD along with IKEA Foundation and the Autodesk Foundation officially announces a new global design competition to help families cope with the effects of climate change.
The WDCD Climate Action Challenge calls on designers and creative entrepreneurs to submit innovative solutions to combat the impacts of climate change. The call for entries will be launched on 23 May 2017 at WDCD Live Amsterdam.
‘Which side are you on?’
Per Heggenes, IKEA Foundation CEO, says: ‘We believe climate change represents a very significant threat to the future of children living in poor communities – and that innovative design can help their families cope and adapt. We see that the creative community is eager to make their contributions to efforts to tackle climate change. Stories of communities affected by droughts, typhoons, or rising sea levels are implicitly asking creatives: which side are you on? This initiative will help creatives side with the many people, and this is why we’re supporting the What Design Can Do Climate Action Challenge.’
‘An essential challenge’
‘Climate change is one of the greatest design challenges of our time, and addressing it is essential to the long-term success of society,’ said Lynelle Cameron, president & CEO, Autodesk Foundation and vice president of Sustainability, Autodesk. ‘At Autodesk, we support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and non-profits to create climate change solutions through funding, software, and services. We’re proud to be supporting the What Design Can Do Climate Action Challenge as a way to help more climate innovations get to market and succeed.’
The Climate Action Challenge
The WDCD Climate Action Challenge will have different tracks and awards for students, creative professionals, and start-ups. The winning entrants, selected by an international jury, will be supported with funds and invited to join an acceleration programme to make their ideas happen. It builds on the success of last year’s Refugee Challenge, which attracted in 630 entries from 70 countries. The five winning ideas presented their projects at the closing Demo Day in March.
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Key Milestones
Launch Climate Action Challenge: 23 May 2017
International Call for Participation: May – July
Selection & presentation winners: 22 – 27 October (Dutch Design Week)
Acceleration & Implementation: November 2017 – April 2018