Primary school students compete for best design

On Thursday, the 8th of October, students from eight municipalities in Denmark Central Region will come together at the culture centre in Ringkøbing-Skjern. The TV host Sigurd Kongshøj will be the host for the event, where the goal is to work out the best solution to local water problems caused by climate change. All participants are in fourth class and have already participated in the Aarhus 2017 Design to Improve Life Challenges, where students tried to find sustainable ways to solve problems presented by the municipals involved.

The 20 finalists are made of groups of four students, chosen out of the 68 solutions proposed, from the whole region, by a jury of experts, politicians, and public servants. The students developed their solutions in a week in the beginning of September. A design team for each class developed its own solution to problems caused by the increase in rain in Denmark, such as floods, sewer water in basements, rats, etc. The children came up with solutions such as setting up ponds where the water is led away to avoid flooding and a clog that is activated in the sewers to block the grate, when the water is about to enter the basements. The main objective of Aarhus 2017 Design to Improve Life Challenge is to teach students to work creatively through an innovative and independent process, which is a part of the new primary school law.

Read more: School children with good solutions for Aarhus 2017 project

The 20 designer teams will present their solutions in Skjern for their teachers, a local, and an expert jury. Out of the 150 children participating the judges will nominate one team as the winner as well as giving away an audience award, voted on by participants.

See the 20 finalists 

Aarhus 2017 Design to Improve Life Challenges is a collaboration between Aarhus 2017 and the non-profit organisation INDEX: Design to Improve Life, which awards the world’s biggest design price, INDEX: Award, and develops innovative processes for Danish schools. The learning processes have successfully been tried abroad, showing students to be very motivated and learning a great deal through the new ways.

In 2017, Aarhus Capital Culture of Europe will invite all the children participated, to Camp Aarhus, to build a model of the city together, which will be exhibited throughout the culture year.