CHALLENGE
About the Challenge
Welcome to the BOUNCE Design Challenge—an invitation to stretch your creativity, test your process, and collaborate in unexpected ways. This isn’t about polished portfolios or final products. It’s about the how—how you think, adapt, question, and respond to a brief in real time. We’re here to celebrate experimentation, risk-taking, and the messy middle of design. Whether you’re working solo or in a team, you’ll be given a brief that nudges you outside your usual lane. You’ll have limited time, set constraints, and the freedom to interpret the brief in a way that encourages new thinking.
The goal? To push your boundaries and show how design can provoke, connect, and shift perspectives. This challenge is not a competition. There’s no winner. But there will be impact, insight, and probably a few surprises.
Ready to bounce some ideas around???
The BOUNCE Challenge leads up to the Live Event at Trinity College Dublin on January 16, 2026. Aligned with this year’s theme, "BEING," the first Challenge—Designing Place—is now open for applications. In partnership with award-winning studio A Playful City , participants will rethink placemaking and critical design thinking. The BriefFocusing on Drury Street, you’ll co-develop a community-first design strategy that supports local life, intergenerational inclusion, and sustainable tourism. Your work aims to reimagine contested public spaces as inclusive, vibrant destinations.
This Challenge is built as an interactive learning experience—what you bring to the table is just as valuable as what you will take away. Through collaboration and critical engagement, you’ll help shape new ideas about public spaces and design’s broader impact.
Who should apply?
The Challenge is open to problem-solvers from any field—not just design. We welcome those from retail, hospitality, science, arts, healthcare, and beyond. Applicants will be selected for their approach, experience, and ability to collaborate across disciplines. We seek a mix of perspectives to foster creative tension and deeper insights. Please note those currently studying are not eligible to apply.
How does it work?
Successful applicants will work in teams, using collective design thinking to explore how design can drive meaningful change. You will be led through the Challenge by A Playful City, who will support the group through dynamic sessions that respond to the needs and direction of the research, giving you new perspectives on problem solving and ideation. Outside of these studio sessions you will work as a group and independently on defined parts of the brief. You will also be invited to present the learnings from the Challenge at BOUNCE 2026. So this is your opportunity to shine on stage on Jan 16th 2026!
Application–Process
Applying is simple. Just fill in the application form telling us a little about yourself. Tell us why you want to be involved, what you think you bring to the table, your background and any other relevant information that makes you shine! Then confirm you are available for the following onsite dates, and live event. (see dates below)
Application–Timeline
Apply: Complete the application form by 30th May
Selection: Successful applicants will be notified 6th June
Challenge Start: Participants will engage in the Challenge, attending required sessions and working collaboratively on the following dates from 6-9pm:
Session 1: Discovery // June 18th // 6–9pm
Session 2: Listen // July 2nd* // 6–9pm
Session 3: Learn // Sept 10th // 6–9pm
Session 4: Deliver // Oct 8th // 6–9pm
*subject to change based on stakeholder availability
Showcase: The project may be exhibited/presented at or before BOUNCE on January 16, 2026.
Note: We may consider applicants who are remote, should their application be compelling. They must commit to dial into the above times, and collaborate with the team.
Participant Commitments
By joining the BOUNCE Challenge, participants agree to:
Collaborate: Work respectfully and constructively with teammates and operate ethically with stakeholders.
Engage: Fully immerse themselves in the process and attend all studio-led sessions.
Commit: Adhere to deadlines, timelines, and agreed-upon meetings, ensuring the completion of all necessary work.
Record: The challenge works best when learning can be shared. We will encourage all participants to record their journey to assemble into a case study.
Participants must be available on specified dates throughout the Challenge to ensure continuity and engagement. You will be required to spend up to 4 hours working individually between each studio session. If you are ready to take part in a collaborative and impactful design exploration, we encourage you to apply!