What if we were able to address the underlying causes of the climate crisis while simultaneously improving our quality of life? The Make it Circular Challenge, a new competition organized by What Design Can Do (WDCD) and the IKEA Foundation, asks this question. They are inviting the global creative community to exhibit the best circular design has to offer from now until January 11, 2023. This includes new ideas and existing innovations that prevent waste by rethinking our way of life: from what we eat and wear, to why we buy and how we build. The objective? To find and create products, services, and systems that are both user-centered and earth-centered—making a circular future more accessible for all.
Changing from circular to linear Our economies have been based on the linear model for centuries, in which raw materials are extracted, transformed into products that are briefly used, and then discarded. The problem with this model is that it is extremely exploitative and assumes that infinite growth on a finite planet is possible. Today, we are experiencing the effects of a climate that is rapidly changing and seeing how wrong this assumption was. The bright side? We have the chance to design a future that is restorative and regenerative by design right now. The development of a circular society, in which resources are embedded in cycles rather than straight lines, is an objective of the WDCD. We might be able to eliminate waste from the beginning, stop further harm from being done to our ecosystems, and cut carbon emissions just in time if we make the change now. The hidden power of creativity
According to Richard van der Laken, co-founder and creative director of WDCD, “many people become lost in the face of so much outrage, fatigue, and disinterest—but creatives.” “The creative community’s ideal domain is the ability to imagine: seeing what does not yet exist, taking on a challenge, moving forward with optimism.” Regardless of whether they work in advertising, product design, or architecture, this makes them excellent change agents. Because of this, the Make it Circular Challenge encourages designers all over the world to use their persuasive skills for good. At least one of the five categories, which represent the most important aspects of a circular society, should be addressed in submissions. Because a truly resilient system must also take into account the social and ethical aspects of how people live their lives from sunrise to sunset, the Challenge refers to society rather than the economy. It calls for a transition that is fair and inclusive and gives people the tools they need to participate in both circular products and living practices. What we eat, what we wear, what we buy, how we package, and how we build are the five primary areas in which creatives have the potential to make a difference.