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29 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

This year, What Design Can Do opened a call to find the world’s most creative solutions for building a circular future. Creative entrepreneurs and designers from all over the world submitted their incredible ideas. 29 were chosen by the WDCD team and the Advisor Experts move on to the final round. This year’s shortlist showcases a diverse range of forward-thinking projects—from transforming air pollution into sustainable materials, to reimagining the way we exchange and repurpose what we own, and even how to craft a hopeful vision of the future.

Next, our jury will meet in Amsterdam to select 8 groundbreaking projects to join the Accelerator. Stay tuned as we unveil the winners soon!

View the Nominees

Nominee | Papilio

Nominee | Anuvad Innovation Studio

Nominee | Lucid Life - Marama ora

WHY DESIGN, WHY DESIGNERS?

We are living in a time of climate crisis, but scientists say there’s still a window for action. A better future demands a shift to a fair and circular society, where resources are reused, waste is minimised, and nature is restored. To make this transition, we need to radically redesign the world we live in, from the products we use every day, to the values that feed our economies.

No sector can do this alone — but designers can clear a path by shifting from linear to circular ways of making, using and living. At WDCD, we support the designers taking accountability for design’s role as part of the problem, looking at how we can make better with less, until every industry is more sustainable, equitable and resilient than the last.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Over the next few weeks, our international Jury will come together to select 8 winning teams across five main disciplines: products, materials, communications, spaces and systems & services. The goal is to find exciting ideas and innovations that would benefit from participating in our accelerator programme, which includes training and mentorship as well as project funding and publicity.

Meet the jury

Discover the experts behind the selection of the winners.

Rene van Geer

Founder at Secrid

Yayra Agbofagh

Founder at The Revival

Ineke Hans

Designer & Professor Design & Social Context

Lara Snatager

Head of Program at What Design Can Do

Danai Musandu

Vice President Investor Relations at HPE Growth

Borre Akkersdijk

Founder at ByBorre

WHAT the winners will get

SPRINT WEEK IN AMSTERDAM

Winners come together with their cohort at Sprint Week in Amsterdam.

The centre of the programme is an intense Sprint Week, where representatives from each team gather in Amsterdam to connect and learn from each other in person. Throughout the five-day programme, winners share their stories, set their intentions, meet their mentors, visit studios of Dutch designers and changemakers and join various masterclasses by selected experts in circular design, strategy and entrepreneurship.

WIN €1.000 PROJECT SUPPORT

Seven Winners receive €1.000 each to support their projects.

6 WEEKS ONLINE PROGRAM

Winners enter a dedicated online programme to bring their projects to the next level.

Our accelerator programme supports initiatives with established social or creative enterprises that use design as a transformative tool to create sustainable impact and drive regenerative growth, contributing to a circular society. The programme is shaped around three main verticals; Creativity (mindset), Entrepreneurship (toolset), and Leadership (skillset) for impact.

1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP

Get support from curated professionals with a wide range of design and business expertise.

We’ll match each winning team with top-notch mentors based on their personal and professional needs. Check out the growing mentors list here.

Present on stage in Amsterdam, Mexico, or Delhi

Winners get the chance to pitch their projects at WDCD Live Amsterdam 2025.

Every year, WDCD hosts festivals in design capitals around the world. Here, Accelerator winners get the platform to share their solutions with potential partners and investors. Last year’s winners pitched in Amsterdam and in Mexico City and are getting ready for Delhi.

Opportunity to get exclusive support from SECRID

Three of the eight Accelerator winners will be awarded additional support by our partner Secrid. They do this as part of their Impact Fund programme, in which Secrid pledges 1% of its revenue to support the next generation of designers who are driving change in our industries. These winners will receive;

– Secrid winner mention
– Accelerator sponsorship for three winners
– Exclusive coaching to further develop their vision and maximise their impact
– Professional communication support, including an in-depth interview and social media visibility

Win €7,777 Secrid Talent Award and join Dutch Design Week

One of the three winners selected to receive exclusive support from SECRID will also win a special Secrid Talent Award, which entitles;

– Secrid winner mention
– Exclusive coaching to further develop their vision and maximise their impact
– Professional communication support, including an in-depth interview and social media visibility
– A dedicated exhibition space as part of the Secrid Talent Podium during Dutch Design Week 2025
– A grant of €7,777.77 to support your journey in making impact

Joining the WDCD’s global design community

The WDCD Accelerator has supported 77 design teams over seven years, empowering creatives in Kenya, Tokyo, Mexico, India, Hong Kong, Istanbul, and Brazil to tackle local challenges. With a network of 200,000+ designers, we connect innovators with organizations to scale climate solutions. As a winner, you’ll join the WDCD global design community and alumni network—where connections, opportunities, and collective impact drive design for a better world.

Check the details of the Accelerator Programme

Nominee | IPS

Nominee | Printing Herbarium

Nominee | mimycri by ANKAA

YOU CAN HALF A PRODUCT’S CLIMATE IMPACT BY DOUBLING IT’S LIFESPAN

SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Dive deeper

CHALLENGES ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION

Over the years, we’ve empowered thousands of creative entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into impact-driven businesses and accelerate their existing solutions to the next level, in collaboration with partners in Kenya, Tokyo, Mexico, India, Hong Kong, Istanbul and Brazil to address urgent local issues. These years resulting in over 4,000+ submissions, 77 design teams receiving dedicated support, worldwide visibility of urgent themes to a 10M+ audience and measurable impact in polluting industries.