Idea Awards

Students with the most powerful and provocative concepts will be given financial awards to recognize and honor their great ideas. The winning projects will also be highlighted on the Design Ignites Change website and in PR efforts.

In each award cycle one award of $1,000 and up to two at $500 each will be given to innovative project ideas that have the ability to ignite positive social change. Projects will also be highlighted on the Design Ignites Change website and promoted through the program’s PR efforts.

These awards are for project ideas only, it is not required that a plan for actual implementation be in place. Projects will be judged on the following parameters:

» Addresses a pressing social need within a community
» Applies innovation and design thinking to solving the problem
» Proposes a project that is feasible, one that could be implemented with the proper funding and resources in place

The scale of the project idea is not an issue, Design Ignites Change is looking for ideas at any size that push the boundaries of what design thinking can do when applied to social issues.

Deadlines

The written application and on-line cases studies must be submitted and posted by:

Cycle 1: June 30 Extended to July 9, 2010
Cycle 2: December 31, 2010

Eligiblity

The following groups enrolled in Design Ignites Change are eligible to submit projects developed in 2009 or 2010:

» Colleges and universities
» Youth mentoring organizations involved in arts and design
» Creative professionals engaged in a mentoring program around social issues may apply on behalf of the students they mentor

A note to students: if you would like your school to participate you must have a teacher, advisor or school administrator register your college or university in the program.

Participants in the Create! Don’t Hate. billboard mentoring program are not eligible.

Participants in the School: by Design mentoring program are eligible to apply for an award in Cycle 2 only.

Submitting Your Application

You can find the application under downloads on the left side of this page.

» Fax your application to: 212.807.0024, or
» E-mail your application to: mrandall@worldstudioinc.com, or
» Mail your application to: Mark Randall, Worldstudio, 200 Varick Street, Suite 507, New York, NY 10014, tel: 212.366.1317

Selection

All applications will be reviewed by an independent committee of creative professionals, business, civic and non-profit leaders. Projects will be evaluated on concept, viability, potential for impact, as well as a detailed plan for timely execution.

Announcement

The winner(s) will be announced approximately one month after the deadline. The financial awards in the form of a check will be sent within 30 days of announcement.