04/03/2025
Five leading European design festivals unite for the competition for young designers
“NEXT GEN DESIGN: REDESIGN TOMORROW, TODAY”
Belgrade, Serbia, 13 February 2025 – Recognising the urgency of the climate crisis and the power of design to drive change, five major European design platforms and festivals—Mikser Festival (Serbia), What Design Can Do (The Netherlands), designaustria, Barcelona Design Week (Spain), and Skopje Design Week (North Macedonia)—have joined forces under the Next Gen Design project. This three-year collaboration aims to empower young designers to shape a sustainable, circular future through innovation, creativity, and cross-border collaboration.
Competition overview:
Theme: Redesign Tomorrow, Today (focus on green, inclusive and sustainable ideas)
Eligibility: Open to all young creatives aged 18-35, living in Europe (individuals or groups)
Deadline: March 30, 2025
Competition Entry Fee: free of charge
Benefits:
● be part of the traveling exhibition across five design festivals/weeks
● participate in the residency at one of the festivals / design weeks with covered expenses
● win one of 5 monetary awards of 2000 eur as the best residency project
Why Next Gen Design?
Through surveys, open calls, and integrated educational programs, the initiative amplifies youth voices and encourages bold, inclusive, and circular design solutions. By embedding these activities into leading design festivals, the project underscores the role of design in tackling global challenges, promoting the principles of sustainability, and aligning with the European Green Deal.
Next Gen Design provides an opportunity to amplify the ideas of young designers and harness their creativity for a more sustainable future. By providing platforms for recognition and support, Next Gen Design aims to catalyse the next generation of climate-minded creatives across Europe and beyond.
Jury of Renowned Design Experts
Projects will be reviewed by an international jury consisting of design experts.
Birgit Lohmann, Designer and Curator, Co-founder of designboom and Founder of NOT COMPROMISED, Germany / Italy
Laura Clèries, Design Research Director | CEO of the Hut Agency, Spain
Zoran Jedrejcic, Designer and Art Director, Croatia / Serbia
David Jablonski, Activist, Designer and Co-founder of the Climate Visualisation Collective Klimadashboard.org., Austria
Amanda Pinatih, Curator of Design and Contemporary Art, Stedelijk Museum, the Netherlands
The jury will evaluate submissions based on their ability to drive youth-focused solutions through forward-thinking, creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity. Entries will be assessed on their environmental impact, relevance to climate change, and resource efficiency, as well as their potential to foster social engagement, participatory approaches, and community-driven change.
“Redesign Tomorrow, Today” by Submitting your Idea
Don't miss this chance to shape a sustainable future through design! Submit your innovative, green, and inclusive idea to Redesign Tomorrow, Today and join a network of leading European design festivals. Gain international recognition, participate in a residency, and showcase your work across Europe. Apply now at https://nextgendesign.eu/open-call/ – deadline: March 30, 2025!
About Next Gen Design
Next Gen Design is a three-year initiative supported by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme. The project brings together five leading European design platforms and festivals: Skopje Design Week, Mikser Festival (Belgrade), designaustria (Vienna), What Design Can Do (Amsterdam), and Barcelona Design Week.
Inquiries:
COMPETITION LINKS
Application form: https://nextgendesign.eu/application-form/
Competition text: https://nextgendesign.eu/open-call/