BE OPEN launches DESIGNING FUTURES 2050: international competition for young creatives focused on the UN Sustainable Development Programme

LONDON, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Designing Futures 2050 is the 6^th international competition held by philanthropic educational initiative BE OPEN and its partners. It is open to students, graduates and young professionals. The competition aims to encourage creation of innovative solutions by younger creatives, for a more prosperous and sustainable future, and the focus of the competition is the UN SDGs.

BE OPEN has developed this competition with the objective to raise awareness about the necessity of urgent action and adjustment of the SDGs to the realities of today among the young and upcoming professionals of creative and engineering disciplines. The competition hopes to contribute to the realistic implementation of sustainability values through identifying, showcasing and promoting creative ideas that support global shift to a sustainable and efficient future.

Elena Baturina, Founder of BE OPEN: “For the past six years, we at BE OPEN have worked to support the SDGs by running international student design competitions. Every year we collect hundreds of outstanding, well-researched, creative projects from young people all over the world. Every year we get reassurance that educating and motivating young people to become leaders of sustainable change is the best way forward. And every year we try to do more by offering them a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas, offering them opportunities for self-education, boosting their confidence and helping them to see that they matter.”

There are three submissions categories to help contestants choose their approach to the challenge: Battling the Problems of Today; Creating the Visions of Tomorrow; Adjusting the SDGs.

BE OPEN strongly believes that creativity is integral in the shift to sustainable existence. To attain the UN SDGs we need to think out of the box. We need creative thinking – design thinking – and creative action. Design has a crucial role to play as an instrument or vehicle for the implementation of the UN SDGs.

BE OPEN will reward the best work with the monetary prizes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000. International expert jury will select top-50 and name the winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes. The Founder’s Choice prize is allocated by Elena Baturina, and the Public Vote prize winner will be decided upon by an online open vote among the top-50 submissions.