Supporting Great Ideas

Design Ignites Change offers support to participants and their projects in a number of ways.

Awards program

Design Ignites Change offers awards in two categories; the Idea Award will be given to a promising and innovative social-change concept and the Implementation Award will offer grants for the real-world execution of a promising community project. In both categories, a jury of creative, business and civic leaders will select the project or projects with the best chance of achieving positive change on a local level.

Additionally, participants in the School: by Design mentoring program are eligible to apply for a $10,000 award to implement their school re-design solutions. For more information on this award, visit the School: by Design page.

The following groups enrolled in Design Ignites Change are eligible to submit projects developed in 2011:
» Colleges and universities
» Creative professionals and creative professional organizations
» Youth mentoring organizations involved in arts and design

Applications and online case studies must be submitted and posted by:

Cycle 1: June 30, 2011
Cycle 2: December 31, 2011

Funding workshops and resources

A key goal of Design Ignites Change is to give participants the entrepreneurial skills they need to secure funding for their projects. Through the development of open-source documents and workshops will provide a framework for students, educators and professionals to learn about various funding models so they can bring their projects to life.