Our 2018/19 design briefs have launched! 10 real-world challenges focused on big social issues, open to higher education students and recent graduates around the world.

Find out more at our two-part launch event at the RSA on 25 September: a Tutor Briefing session in the afternoon, followed by a keynote talk ‘Design: Into the Ether’ by Cat Drew to publicly mark the launch of the 2018/19 RSA Student Design Awards

BOOK A TICKET FOR ‘2018/19 TUTOR BRIEFING’ (25 Sep, 2pm start)

BOOK A TICKET FOR ‘DESIGN: INTO THE ETHER’ (25 Sep, 6pm start)

How might we design ways to transform emergency healthcare, address the loneliness crisis, reimagine train stations or kitchens, or enable citizens to shape the decisions that affect them?  

How can we rethink sustainable food and farming, encourage greater equality in childcare, or break down the barriers people with hidden disabilities face in society?

And how might animation be used as a tool to highlight everyday sexism or engage people in talking about end of life care?

These are the challenges posed by this year’s RSA Student Design Awards briefs, developed with a diverse mix of partners including Philips, NHS England, Twitter and Network Rail. The Awards include over £30,000 in cash prizes and paid placements. Winners also receive practical support from the RSA and our partners, and join a global community of alumni that includes Apple Design Chief Jonathan Ive, digital public services mastermind Ben Terrett and Forbes ’30 Under 30’ social entrepreneurs Elena Dieckmann and Ryan Robinson.

The competition will open for submissions in January 2019 and responses can come from individuals and teams, and any discipline or combination of disciplines – from product, communication and service proposals to spatial and environmental solutions.

Register your interest by signing up for our newsletter to receive key updates and information. We’ll remind you about deadlines, keep you in the loop with the judging process and send you invitations to events and other opportunities.