84 participants

3 weeks

3 themes

In March 2023, WDO Educational Members Algonquin College (Canada) and UPES University (India) partnered to collaboratively host a Design Challenge to design interventions that addressed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Focusing on design research and strategy, the international competition welcomed eight international teams of students from Algonquin College’s School of Media and Design and UPES’ School of Design.

Themes

WDO worked alongside both Algonquin College and UPES to identify three themes that were relevant not only to regional considerations but also the SDGs.

 

Indigenous Healthcare

Focused on healthcare through an indigenous lens. Themes ranged from access to products and services to environmental factors.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Human Transportation 

Focused on planes, trains and automobiles and the people who ride them. Themes ranged from e-vehicles to human-trafficking.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Sustainable Furniture

Focused on sustainable production of furniture. Themes ranged from design and manufacturing methods to local businesses and economies.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Process

Multidisciplinary and balanced, each team was assigned a faculty mentor to support their ideation process. WDO also recruited representatives from its corporate member network and Young Designers Circle to participate as industry subject matter experts and judges on a panel for final presentations.

Participants also had the opportunity to work and network with professionals from international organizations (and WDO Members) such as Aether Learning, Andreu World, BMW, Delta Airlines and Design for Winning.

Together and based on the theme selected, students worked to map a problem space, identify gaps in the existing solutions landscape and propose opportunities for innovation. The focus of the initiative was collaborative problem solving.

Outcomes

Ranging from sustainable furniture to digital apps, teams presented their final outcomes during an online session at the end of the third week. This final session was joined by representatives from WDO, Algonquin College and UPES, who shared their feedback and reflections with each of the teams.

To explore all of the proposed solutions, watch the final session recording below.