Tackle Real-World Issues in V&A Innovate Challenge

Published 15th November 2024

What do a junior bake-off judge, a one show presenter and a creative technologist have in common? They’re all judges in this year’s V&A Innovate Challenge!

The V&A Innovate Challenge is an annual design competition hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum, is inspiring young students across the UK to channel their creativity into addressing critical social and environmental issues. Aimed at secondary school pupils aged 11-14, the challenge encourages young people to reimagine solutions for real-world problems, promoting critical thinking and innovative approaches in design.

This year’s themes focused on Sustainability, Community Connection, and Wellbeing, prompting participants to identify problems in their own communities and design creative solutions. The challenge was open to schools across the UK, where students collaborated to explore themes and develop concepts that could positively impact daily life and the environment.

Students submitted their work through digital entries that included sketches, prototypes, and video pitches. Entries ranged widely, from initiatives to reduce plastic waste with biodegradable materials to designs for green community spaces aimed at encouraging inclusivity and well-being. Other projects included mental health apps, sustainable fashion concepts, and accessible designs for people with disabilities.

Throughout the design process, students engaged in extensive research, empathising with potential users, and considering environmental impact and practical feasibility. Teachers were encouraged to use the challenge as a way to incorporate cross-curricular learning, merging design with science, technology, and social studies. For many students, this was their first opportunity to pitch an idea from concept to completion, enhancing valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

A panel of judges, including designers, educators, and industry professionals, assessed each project based on creativity, relevance, and potential impact. The V&A Innovate Challenge gives young people the chance to see themselves as designers of change. By asking students to tackle big issues, we’re helping them realise that design can be a powerful tool for good.

The V&A Innovate Challenge is part of the museum’s wider mission to inspire and educate young people about the potential of design. Plans to grow the competition in the coming years reflect the museum’s commitment to empowering the next generation of designers to think critically and act responsibly.

Find out more.