R1.62 million design competition to improve life

WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo PHOTO David Harrison

A new R1.62 million challenge calls for sustainable design ideas that can improve life in Cape Town, World Design Capital 2014.

The central theme for the WDC2014 in Cape Town is to “Live Design. Transform Life.” A theme that, if well executed, should see design initiatives play a central role in improving the lives of all of Cape Town’s residents.

The Better Living Challenge, in particular, is calling for sustainable solutions that will improve living conditions in low-income households, with an incentive of R1.62 million in prizes for the winning solutions. The project is one of the Western Cape Government’s 110% Green initiatives and is backed by the WDC2014 and Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI).

Who can enter?

Designers, creators, inventors, manufacturers, retailers, professionals and students from South Africa and abroad. In fact, even if you are none of these but consider yourself a capable innovator with awesome ideas that can help improve lives, then go forth and enter. Even already existing projects are allowed to enter.

What kind of ideas exactly?

The challenge has three categories: structural home, comfortable home and connected home. Structural home is all about ideas and products around building materials, structures and expansion ideas on already built homes.

Comfortable homes is about products, systems and services that improve the living environment, air quality, light, energy saving, water, etc. Storage ideas and products that address fire risk also fit in here.

Connected home deals with ideas that digitally connect these homes to their surroundings and the digital world beyond. However, it’s not just limited to the digital – solutions that deal with connecting homes to waste and food systems are also welcome.

Uhmm… what’s in it for me?

The three category winners will each receive R500 000 worth of support to bring their project to reality, tailored to meet their needs and the stage that the project is currently in. As for students, three winners will each get a straightforward R40 000 cash prize. 

OMG! Is it too late? Can I still enter?

Entries opened on 1 March and will close at midnight on 31 May 2014. During the months of March to May, three co-design workshops will also be held to help entrants who attend get to know a little more about the end-user experience.

Visit betterlivingchallenge.co.za to enter.