14 MAY 2014: Just as winter starts, things are hotting up for the Better Living Challenge, with entries being submitted ahead of the 31 May 2014 closing date for the competition. With over 220 registered – and still to be completed – entry profiles on www.betterlivingchallenge.co.za there are indeed plenty of good ideas on how to improve low cost living. The competition is seeking out the very best home improvement solutions; ideas that are innovative, affordable and green are the ones that will be rewarded.
Interest in the competition is in no small part due to the fact that the three main winners will each receive R500 000 worth of support to bring their concept to life, or to enhance an already existing product or service. What’s more, three student entries each stand a chance of claiming a R40 000 cash prize. Corporate projects can also shine, as part of the Better Living Challenge Showcase set for October this year, where all the winners and finalists will be exhibited.
Interest in the competition can also be credited to the Better Living Challenge’s network of Ambassadors. A high level panel of 12 influential industry personalities has been charged with spreading the word about this worthy initiative.
The Better Living Challenge Ambassadors include Professor Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, President-Elect of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID); Fehmida Jordaan, the Executive Manager of the South African Institute for Interior Design (IID); Kelly Berman of Design Indaba; Sune Stassen of Rock City Foundation; communications consultant Lianne Burton; award-winning product designer Heath Nash; Deborah Weber of the WWF; Ilze Wolff of Open Architecture; Dillion Phiri of Creative Nestlings; Nadine Botha and Sumien Brink of New Media; Laurence Brick of 100% Design South Africa; and Jodi Allemeier and Andrew Fleming of the Cape Town Partnership.
All notable design advocates and practitioners, these Ambassadors share a willingness to promote the Better Living Challenge, because of its overall aim of showing how design and innovation can improve living conditions in the low-income housing market. Which is why the Better Living Challenge is itself an official project (WDC#204) of the World Design Capital 2014 programme.
Project-managed by the Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI), the Better Living Challenge is part of the Western Cape Government’s 110% Green initiative, which encourages organisations and companies to commit to the Green Economy. The competition is intended to take powerful ideas to market and to provide a platform for consumers to experience and interact with innovative solutions. And with the countdown to the closing date having begun, it’s another step closer to doing just that…
As part of this process, the Better Living Challenge earmarked the month of May in order to provide additional support for potential entrants. A two-day Co-Design Workshop will be held in Khayelitsha towards the end of May, which will bring together residents, designers and professionals working in the housing sector. The Co-Design Workshop will look at issues on the ground, followed by a process of idea generation and rapid prototyping. The intention is to generate concepts that will be submitted into the Challenge with the hope of them being wining ideas that will be brought to life. The heat is on!
For more information: www.betterlivingchallenge.co.za | Facebook – The Better Living Challenge | Twitter – @betterlivingchallenge #WDC2014
Issued On behalf of: Cape Craft & Design Institute (www.ccdi.org.za)
Contact:
BLC project manager Fran Cox | fran.cox@ccdi.org.za | 021 461 1488
110% Green Jenny Cargill, Special Advisor Office of the Premier, Western Cape
021 483 3380 | Jenny.Cargill@westerncape.gov.za
WDC2014 Priscilla Urquhart PR and Media Manager | Priscilla@wdccapetown2014.com | 082 852 2428
Photo credit: Dave Harrison.
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