Dezeen Competitions: Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design has launched the Wege Prize 2027: A Student Design Competition for the Circular Economy, which seeks submissions that propose solutions to global issues.

Teams of five should propose a product or service that considers a circular economy.

Organiser: Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design
Competition: Wege Prize 2027: A Student Design Competition for the Circular Economy
Judges:

• Alysia Garmulewicz, co-CEO and founder of Materiom
• Nathan Shedroff, lecturer at Columbia University School of Professional Studies
• Colin Webster, learning content manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Jo Williams, circular economy learning consultant and senior tutor for University of Exeter Circular Economy Masterclass
• Skot Welch, principal and founder of Global Bridgebuilders
• Joaquin Viquez, founder of Innovaciones Circulares
• Braj (BK) Singh, co-founder of Green Roots Consultants
• Meritxell (Txell) Martín i Pardo, founder of The Cascade Collective for Cultural Sustainability
• Gretchen Hooker, owner of Pixel Naturalist Design Studio
• Christopher Carter, founder of The Carter Project

Submission deadline: 4 October 2026
Prizes: the first place winner will receive $30,000, the second place winner will receive $20,000 and the third place winner will receive $10,000. Two finalist will also be awarded $2,500 each

Click here to enter ›

Competition overview

Part design competition, part global learning lab – Wege Prize challenges transdisciplinary teams of university students to develop products and services that solve complex, "wicked" problems through the framework of the circular economy.

Participants contend for $65,000 in total cash prizes as they evolve their ideas with input from judges who provide in-depth feedback at each phase of the competition's iterative design process.

Applications should answer the following questions:

• what problem is your team addressing and who are the stakeholders affected by it?
• what social, technological and ecological forces shape the problem?
• which entry point in the system will you focus on, and why is it the right place to intervene?
• what product or service are you proposing, and how can circular design be its differentiator?
• what solutions exist already, and how can your approach go further?
• how can your solution help address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
• how will engagement with stakeholders, mentors, and subject matter experts shape your design process?
• what's your plan for next steps, and what could get in the way?

The competition's iterative process is as follows:

• Phase 1: 90 team applications will be accepted. All 90 accepted teams will receive in-depth feedback from judges on their application
• Phase 2: 30 accepted applicants will be selected by the judges to advance to Phase 2, where teams must consider the judges' feedback on their application as they work to develop their starting framework into a more detailed circular solution. All 30 teams will receive in-depth feedback from the judges on their Phase 2 submission
• Phase 3: 15 semifinalist teams will be selected by the judges to advance to Phase 3, where teams will revise their Phase 2 submission using the judges' feedback. They'll go deeper into their business model, exploring how materials flow through their solution and how their approach has evolved. All 15 teams will receive in-depth feedback from the judges on their Phase 3 submission
• Phase 4: five finalist teams will be selected by the judges to advance to Phase 4, where teams will select one designated presenter to present and defend their final solution to the judges at the 2027 Wege Prize Awards. Winners will be selected and announced during the awards event

Find the full brief here.

Eligibility and judging criteria

• university students anywhere in the world enrolled in a full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degree program can apply
• only teams of exactly five students may apply
• teams must represent at least three different academic disciplines (based on current program of study) and at least two academic institutions (colleges or schools within a larger university are considered separate institutions)

Judges will consider the following:

• circularity: how does your solution intentionally and successfully incorporate the core principles of the circular economy?
• innovation: how does your solution – in particular its circular design – provide unique value and create new opportunity?
• viability: to what extent have you prototyped your solution and demonstrated its marketability, profitability and technical/financial feasibility?
• scope: how does your solution reflect a systemic understanding of the problem while remaining rooted in a clear, sensible entry point?
• desirability: to what extent has your user/stakeholder research uncovered proven need and sufficient motivation for people to use your solution?
• collaboration: how effectively have you leveraged your team's diverse makeup and engaged outside perspectives to strengthen your solution?
• presentation: to what extent have you presented your solution in a clear, concise, well-organised, compelling and visually engaging manner?

Submission deadlines

Team applications are due by 11:59pm (EST) on 4 October 2026.

About Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design

Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design is an accredited institution of higher education located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

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