Until 30 November 2019, the Call for Entries for the 2019 Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents (SDAY) is open.

For its 4^th edition, SDAY invites design professionals or students aged 35 or younger of the 180 UNESCO Creative Cities to submit their work on the theme of Inclusive Design.

SDAY aims to encourage young talented designers for their contribution to the development of cities around the world. The purpose of SDAY is to reward the efforts of young designers, who, through their creativity, have contributed to the enhancement of environmental sustainability, social and economic development and, above all, quality of lives in cities. The Award stimulates exchange between young talents from different countries, cooperation between creative cities, and the sharing of experiences and ideas for developing creative and cultural industries. The Award also promotes the value of design thinking, concepts and products as contributors to the transformation of economies and society.

Launched in 2013, SDAY hopes to encourage young creatives via international and local activities such as tour of exhibitions, workshops, talks and forums, etc. The platform offers designers and design studios the opportunity to learn, communicate, and network with like-minded talents across borders.

This year’s theme of Inclusive Design reflects this era flooded with commodities and over-consumption, where new ethical standards ask for inclusive design. Respecting individual differences, satisfying the needs of the populations, and attaching equal importance to the functions and emotional values of objects are the new aesthetic standards that the era has asked of design. The rise of sciences and technologies, the diversity of culture, the emergence of new forces, and the turbulence in international politics and economies form the context in which designers are called to keep broad visions and open minds. With the integration of disciplines and the sharing of skills, designers shoulder the important mission of providing new perspectives for the public and providing new ideas for solving challenges and contradictions. Only when design becomes inclusive can it create a better future for all.

SDAY has 21 awards: 1 Grand Award (professional Group), 10 Merit Awards (professional Group), 10 New Star Awards (Student Group), and 3 Best Nominator honorary prize.

Online registration and submission is open from 9 September 2019 and will close at 6.00 p.m. on 30 November 2019 (Beijing Time, GMT+08:00).

Final judging is scheduled in December 2019 and the Award Ceremony will be held in April 2020.

The city of Shenzhen invites designers from around the world to enter the 2019 SDAY and looks forward to receiving innovative projects.