Water Futures Design Challenge

Description

Responding to the tensions around water in the urban environment and the shift for cities to ban the single-use disposable plastic bottle, Water Futures aims to inspire designers to take action in reimagining our toxic drinking water culture and design alternative realities. 

THE CHALLENGE: OPEN TO DESIGNERS OF ALL DISCIPLINES.

A/D/O invites multi-disciplinary designers and teams to shape the future of drinking water in the urban environment. Pressing issues such as water scarcity and plastic pollution mean that new behaviors, products and systems for accessing drinking water in the city are urgently required.

The Water Futures Design Challenge includes a prize pool of $72,000 USD to be awarded to finalists and winners. Sign up below to receive the design challenge form.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE - A YEARLONG SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS

APRIL - JUNE | HARVESTING THE SKY
Our first theme looks at concepts and technologies for harvesting water in both dry and wet climates. We'll explore issues such as efficiency and self-sufficiency and encourage thinking ‘off-grid’ to collect, store and distribute water.

JULY - SEPTEMBER | POLLUTION & PURIFICATION
This theme focuses on pollution and purification, looking at the challenges and testing technologies for cleaning water from products for emergency use to a process that recycles waste water on site.

OCTOBER - DECEMBER | DRINK LOCAL
We used to store water in terracotta vessels, gourds and skins, bottles, jars and flasks. Then came the plastic bottle and we became addicted. Single-use disposable plastic is catastrophic for the environment, how can designers help imagine other ways of carrying and accessing water in the city?