NEWSROOM
If you are interested in working with us on a story about the WDCD Accelerator, here is everything — from press releases to visual assets — to get you started.
Do you have a specific question or request? Don’t hesitate to contact Daphne Schmidt at daphne@whatdesigncando.com. We will respond to all media enquiries as soon as possible.
PRESS RELEASES
WDCD Accelerator Launch Press Release (EN)
PRESS ASSETS
BACKGROUND
Open Call for New Generation Design leaders shaping a circular future. Submit your application to the WDCD Accelerator 2025 by 31 March for an opportunity to join our global network of innovators.
In March 2025, a jury of leading experts in design, social impact, and climate action will select at least eight winning teams based on criteria such as impact, design and creativity, feasibility and scalability, and the strength of the team and network. The selected teams will receive €1,000 funding and participate in a global development programme, which includes online training, mentoring sessions, and a Sprint Week in Amsterdam. This programme aims to support the winning teams in further strengthening their projects and propelling them through 2025 and beyond. As part of the WDCD Challenge and Accelerator network, winners will have the opportunity to gain international exposure through global publications and a chance at speaking engagements at WDCD events.
ABOUT WHAT DESIGN CAN DO
What Design Can Do (WDCD) is an international platform that advocates for design as a tool for social change. Since 2011, we have undertaken numerous activities to promote the role of designers in addressing the world’s most pressing societal and environmental issues. To date, WDCD has hosted 15 successful conferences in Amsterdam, São Paulo, and México City. In 2016 WDCD launched an ambitious design challenge programme that engages the creative community with urgent societal issues such as the wellbeing of refugees and climate change. So far, the programme has resulted in €26m in funds raised by initiatives post programme.
PREVIOUS CHALLENGES
The What Design Can Do Accelerator is the successor of WDCD’s previous design competitions, like the Redesign Everything Challenge (2024), the Make it Circular Challenge (2022 – 23) No Waste Challenge (2021), Clean Energy Challenge (2019) and Climate Action Challenge (2017).
To see previous Challenge winners, visit https://www.whatdesigncando.com/projects/
For more information, visit www.whatdesigncando.com
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