Calling South Africa’s next generation of designers! The Design Education Forum of Southern Africa (DEFSA), in partnership with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), invites you to imagine and create bold solutions for a sustainable future through the WHAT IF! DESIGN competition.
This is your chance to push boundaries, question the norm, and explore how design can challenge conventional ideas, blend technological innovation with cultural heritage and create empathetic, human-centred solutions to today’s challenges.
The challenge? Ask yourself: “What if design could disrupt, inspire, and transform?”
Think beyond the ordinary. Create something that’s innovative, sustainable, and rooted in cultural values.
Who can enter?
- High school learners
- Tertiary students
- Young professionals (30 years or younger with up to 3 years’ experience)
Deadline: 18 July 2025
Submission requirements:
- Your final design (JPG, PNG, or MP4 formats)
- A 200–500 word description of your concept
- Proof that your work is original
The top Ten Finalists of all three categories will get the opportunity to showcase their work at the 2025 DEFSA Conference: Design+, where they will network with industry leaders, and publicly acknowledge their visionary contributions.
The winner will be celebrated for their visionary thinking and innovation, gain mentorship, industry visibility, and potential opportunities to develop their projects further.
This is your moment to reimagine and inspire change. For more information, contact secretariat@defsa.org.za
