Challenge Y: Design to Change the World!
It can feel hard to make friends, and even harder to make everyone feel included. Strong friendships help us cope with difficult times and get back on our feet. They can fill our days with comfort, hope and joy. Let’s design ways to bring people closer together!
About Challenge Y 2026
Design Better Futures, Together!
Imagine the Impossible
Begin with what feels like an impossible challenge and turn it into new possibilities.
Get on Board
Explore with curiosity, try with courage, build your skills and move forward together.
Make a Change
Turn problems you care about into solutions that matter, and inspire others to take action too.
AWARDS GALLERY
Explore the range of ideas, experiments, and solutions brought to life through Challenge Y.
Impact Award
The team that understood the challenge and the people involved to create a solution that would bring lasting change.
Innovation Award
The team that broke the mold with bold and creative problem-solving solutions.
Empathy Award
The team that puts people at the heart of design, with understanding and care.
Feasibility Award
The team that bridges imagination with practicality to make ideas achievable.
Tick tock!
Gear up and embark on this new adventure!
Sign up for your half-day workshops! More details in the registration form.
12 May to 5 June
Registration for Schools!
Let's get YOUths, educators and parents on board to embark on a journey of ideas, creativity, and impact!
9 July
Workshop I: Exploration Underway! Dig deep into the challenge and uncover the problems to solve.
Embrace the chaos at the School of X. Step into Challenge Y with a curious lens and discover how to navigate the unknown ahead. As you dig into your user research, and begin to see the gems that help you understand the problem and pull out your telescope to hunt for clues!
27 July OR 3 August
Workshop II: Anchor Your Challenge: Make sense of the problems and reimagine what is possible.
This is where we will unearth exciting new insights that allow us to create ideas that haven’t been seen before. Bold ideas emerge, grow, and evolve as you explore what could be, without limits.
17 August OR 27 August
Workshop III: Failing Forward; Test ideas, sieve out weaknesses, and come back stronger.
Test your ideas in simple, tangible ways with people who would use them and create unstoppable solutions.
8 September OR 10 September
Consultation and Coaching Session: Sharpen solutions and make a real impact.
You have explored, tested, and rebuilt. Now is time to bring it all together. Refine your value proposition, and shape your solution into something clear, and impactful. With guidance and feedback, give your idea its final glow-up before you share it with the world.
29 September
Get ready to let your ideas take flight.
Submit your entries by this date, 11.59pm (SGT)!
Let's build an inclusive world together!
Challenge Y isn’t just another competition — it’s your chance to think, create, and make a real impact. Take on a real-world challenge and design ideas that build a stronger sense of belonging and help us create new and lasting friendships to bring positive impact in your lives!
In partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), DesignSingapore Council is delighted to present a design platform for young people across Singapore to design together, in tackling an issue that people everywhere struggle with: feeling disconnected with others, even in a digitally connected world.
Through Challenge Y, you’ll be taught how to create solutions to important, and complex issues like this, and with these skills you can go on to use them to solve other challenges you care about, too. We genuinely believe that when you have the skills to problem-solve with design, you are unstoppable!
Move beyond the theories and frameworks and build the skills to create the changes you want to see in the world through practical collaborative approaches. Challenge Y exists to empower YOUths to co-design with others to create positive outcomes.
Students leading an intergenerational team of co-designers to create impact together. Each team must have at least one or up to two adults taking part. Limited spaces available, register early to secure your spot!
CURIOUS QUESTIONS?
We've got your back!
Who can participate in Challenge Y?
Open to students from all schools in Singapore, aged 7 to 18. Each team will require at least one (1) or up to two (2) adults co-designing with students and learning as teammates.
What can I expect from the workshops?
The workshops are high energy and hands-on and you can expect to participate throughout. There will be HOMEWORK (yay!) to do between workshops. Make sure you allocate time to come together to do the homework. Professional designers will be there to guide you through the process during the workshops.
What if I am unable to attend the workshop?
Every workshop counts as we build on the outputs of each workshop in subsequent sessions. If you miss any of the workshops you will miss a valuable part of the design process. Every stage in the design process is critical to achieve strong outcomes so we highly recommend full participation.
What happens at the end of the process of Challenge Y?
Complete the journey of three (3) workshops and earn a certificate of participation, awarded by the School of X. Your submission will be reviewed by industry judges, and if your project is shortlisted, you will have an opportunity to showcase your project and be profiled in early November. Some projects may have the opportunity to progress further.
How many members can I have in my team?
Gather your crew of up to six (6) members, including educators or parents, and take on the challenge together. Each team must have one (1) or up to two (2) adults co-designing with students and learning as equal.
THE GAME PLAN
Know the moves before you begin, here is your essential guide on how to take part and submit.
Feeling all set? Here’s how to play, create, and submit.
HEAR WHAT OUR CHANGEMAKERS HAVE TO SAY!
Don’t just imagine designing for impact, hear it from those who have done it!
“It's a very fun project that helps with relationships!”
Check these out!
Media
The National Design Project
Organised by Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design, the inaugural National Design Project took place in 2023, with the thematic focus of Design For Wellness. More than 221 General Education students (Primary – Pre-University/Junior College) participated in the project.
19 Nov 2024
Local
Newfound creative confidence empowers changemakers
16 Jan 2025
Media
Challenge Y: A National Youth Design Challenge
In a world more connected than ever, why do we sometimes feel further apart? The digital age makes connection easy, quick and global, yet loneliness is increasing, and young people are feeling it more than anyone. Through Challenge Y, over 270 students came together to challenge these trends by exploring what matters to us all – how might we build stronger, happier relationships in today's rapidly changing world? Guided by industry experts, they applied design thinking to create thoughtful solutions that bring people closer, support emotional connection and strengthen social resilience. From shoes designed as canvases that spark self-expression and connection, to reimagined board games that bridge generations – each solution reveals how youths are using design to create ripples of connection in their communities. Be inspired by the 20 finalist teams at the Design Education Summit 2025 – proving you’re never too young to make an impact.
28 Mar 2026
Media
Design Education Summit 2025 Highlights
The big ideas made us pause. And the brave questions by curious minds put a smile on our faces. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯 at the 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 reminded us that learning is most powerful when led by curiosity. Watch the bold conversations and playful discoveries, and relive the energy and joy of design education reimagined.
28 Mar 2026
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