The Eurovelo 6 cycle route runs across Europe for 4,400 kilometres stretching from the French Atlantic coast to the Black Sea in Romania. Bee Breeders is now looking for concepts for rest stop cabins along the route that offer cyclists “safe, comfortable, and inviting lodgings” where they can “rest and refuel”. The aim is both to convey the European identity and to find a meaningful and aesthetic language of form. In addition, simple, intelligent, and resource-saving solutions are sought that can be set up and maintained as cost-effectively as possible. Anyone can participate, regardless of their profession. The first prize is 3,000 US dollars.

To mark the 550th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg’s death, the Verein für die Schwarze Kunst in Dresden is offering two bursaries in 2018 under the slogan of “Learning typesetting and book printing on the move”. The competition is aimed at young people no older than 30 years who work in the relevant professions as printers or typesetters, are interested in typography and art, are employed as craftspeople, and who want to become acquainted with at least three workshops during two to six months of itinerant work experience. The bursaries are worth 1000 euros each. The deadline for applications is 20 October 2018, although delayed submissions may still be considered. The application should contain general information about the applicant and their background as well as a letter of recommendation from a workshop or a specialist, and mention their motivation and existing knowledge.

The Italian furniture manufacturer Porada invites both professional designers as well as design students and graduates to take part in the competition with their designs. They are looking for concepts for desks and/or dressing tables. The main material should be wood, natural or lacquered; combinations are also permitted, for example with metal, glass, leather or textile elements. In addition to aesthetic, functional, and technical production factors, the submissions will also be evaluated according to ergonomic, ecological, and sustainable criteria. The adjudicating panel is made up of company representatives, practising architects and designers as well as journalists. A total of 10,000 euros in prize money will be distributed, of which 3,000 euros will be awarded to the professional placed first, and 2,000 euros to the top student.

The IF Social Impact Prize awards a total of 50,000 euros per year to projects and initiatives that aim to improve people’s living conditions through design. Companies, design studios, foundations, and institutions can apply for funding with their ideas, divided into two rounds of competition. During the first half of 2018, the winners of a total of 25,000 euros have already been selected, with the next opportunity running until 20 November 2018. The categories are based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including, for example, ending hunger worldwide, quality education, gender equality, and responsible consumption and production. There is no charge to take part in the competition. In addition to financial support, the winning projects will receive a permanent place in the IF World Design Guide.

The Spanish furniture manufacturer Andreu World has been holding an annual design competition since 2001 searching for concepts for a chair and/ or a table. In line with the company’s product portfolio, the entrants’ designs should also be made of wood (beech, oak or walnut); other materials, if used at all, such as plastic, glass or metal, should only be included as a supplement. A changing jury of experts from the fields of design, industry, and media judges the entries according to the criteria of production costs, ergonomics, and fulfilment of the desired function. Both professional designers and students can enter. The winner receives a cash prize of 4,000 euros, the runner-up 2,000 euros.

Every day, several tons of waste are produced in the Nigerian megacity of Lagos. In the early 1990s, in order to control this amount, the city council designated a remote area of 100 acres where the Olusosun landfill site was built. As the population has more than tripled since then, the area is now surrounded by inhabited settlements and was closed at the beginning of 2018 due to health risks. Now, the area is to be repurposed as a green space and public park. The competition is looking for concepts on how a stadium could be integrated there. These structures are themselves often a challenge in terms of resources, irregular use, and lifespan, which is why they are intended to serve as an example for the innovative handling of waste production. The first prize is endowed with 5,000 US dollars, the second prize is shared by three submissions receiving prize money of 1,000 US dollars each.