A career-enhancing opportunity for up-and-coming designers, creators, thinkers and makers launches today (19 Jan) to university students and recent graduates across the country.
The Design By Nature competition, now in its second year, is live and appealing to the UK’s future creative talent to put forward their ideas and make their mark in the fight against climate change.
Successful entrants will this year be able to bring their idea to life as part of a live urban greening/nature-led campaign launching in Manchester in May.
The three living briefs are around the theme ‘Good things happen when we connect people to nature’ – a hot topic that has been fuelled by the COVID pandemic.
A recent survey by Hubbub showed 40% of people are now visiting local green spaces more and 51% are now appreciating nature and wildlife more than before the first COVID lockdown in March 2020.
The three briefs are as follows:
Brief 1: Green is the New Black – Inspire 18–25-year-olds living in Manchester, or a city of your choice, to explore and spend time in their local green spaces and engage with the nature on their doorstep in their everyday lives.
Brief 2: Bring the Outside In – Create an affordable, practical and evidence-based prototype that brings the multiple benefits of nature into the homes of low-income inner-city communities.
Brief 3: Use Nature for Good – ‘prime’ and engage low-income households or young people to make more sustainable choices in their day-to-day lives and become advocates for protecting the environment.
Seed funding
Environmental charity Hubbub, with the support of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust (WFET), will offer successful entrants seed funding and expert advice to bring the idea to life. All ideas submitted in response to the briefs will be reviewed by the Hubbub team and an expert judging panel. The successful ideas will be awarded with a Design By Nature commendation, celebrated on social media, in top design press and will be trialled by Hubbub in the Manchester campaign.
Michelle Robb, Creative Partner at Hubbub, said: “We believe that insight-led, experimental design should be at the heart of solving some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing society. This is a fantastic opportunity for talented design students and recent graduates to make their mark and help us find solutions to some of the environmental problems we’ve not yet solved.
“We’re really looking forward to helping the winning entrants turn their ideas into reality as part of our nature-led campaign in Manchester over the coming months.”
In the competition’s first year in 2020, commended entries included a creative way to recycle water and a new product to protect outdoor workers from air pollution. The standout entry was a new sewing machine for Gen Z, to help tackle the culture of throwaway fashion. The stylish and foldable ‘Sew Conscious’ machine is the brainchild of Samantha Supan of Brunel University.
Hubbub have offered Samantha seed funding to take the idea forward and are looking forward to picking up conversions with her when she finishes her studies and work placements.
The briefs and research packs which include key insights and tips can be downloaded on the Design By Nature website. Entries will close on the 31 May 2021.
