The Next Generation® competition was created in 2003 to promote activism, social involvement, and entrepreneurship in young designers. Metropolis saw the need for a new type of competition, one that went beyond the usual beauty pageants for finished projects, a competition that would generate and reward ideas.
Metropolis celebrates the next generation by rewarding imaginative young designers at large companies and recognizing the hard work of those striving with their own young firms or on their own as well as students—while some designers have a proposal ready and waiting, others are at the beginning of the process with an undefined desire to create and can use a kick start.
The Next Generation® winners and runners up are a testament to the success of this mission. Each project recognized has embodied the core values of good design—incorporating systems thinking, sustainability, accessibility, materials exploration, historic relevance and technology—while forwarding our thinking on what designers can accomplish. The breadth of proposals has been stunning: building projects, urban planning and community building schemes, responsive interior environments, population pressure issues, new materials, ergonomics, product design, social and housing solutions, environmental management, water purity, and waste disposal in crisis situations and so on. $10,000 seed money and publicity have helped winners and runners-up leap from the drawing board to implementation and production.
2008 is the year of WATER
The Next Generation competition seeks entries that address water consumption, reclamation, and efficiency—at all scales of design.
Metropolis encourages you to think big and test your ideas through the Next Generation competition. Our website offers a wealth of information including FAQ, judges’ bios, information on past winners, application instructions and much more. Check back often for news, updates, and announcements.
