Open call for emerging designers to apply for CCAC’s Young Designer’s Award 2025

CCAC funds young, practicing designers to deliver climate-friendly co-design projects with primary school children.

Following the success of last year’s award, CCAC is thrilled to launch the Young Designer’s Award this year.  We are inviting young designers to apply for funded co-design projects with nine- and ten-year-olds in a local primary school.

We are seeking young designers who are passionate about sustainability and enjoy helping others. Applicants can be emerging designers from a range of disciplines including fashion, architecture, urban or landscape design, textiles or planning.

Successful applicants will gain the rewarding experience of delivering a climate-focused co-design project to Year 5 children in a primary school in England or Wales. CCAC gives successful applicants the freedom to create a co-design project that is inspired by their own work. They will be supported by CCAC’s educational advisor when devising their workshops and receive a £5000 honorarium from CCAC.

All three of last year’s award winners, Clara Chu, Polly North and Cassie Quinn, will complete their co-design projects by the end of the 2024/25 school year. Innovative handbag designer Clara Chu is inspiring children at Laycock Primary School to incorporate recycled everyday objects in designs for climate-resilient survival backpacks.  Sustainable architect Polly North has been in The Bemrose School in Derby, inspiring children to design regenerative farms of the future. Cassie Quinn will be in Walthamstow in June, teaching children at Coppermill Primary School how to turn food waste into dyes, textiles, sequins and buttons.

We encourage anyone who may be interested to see our web page with more information about the Young Designer’s Award, eligibility criteria and the application form.