International Call:

D'source
Corona
Design
Challenge

 

 

About

Introduction and Problem-setting:
The Coronavirus pandemic (technically termed COVID-19 by the WHO), although unfortunate and calamitous in its occurrence, has also thrown open opportunities for the design community to play a meaningful role in mitigating and containing its effects. While the problem is a universal one, framing the problem for designing may require both global as well as local sensibilities.

What do we know for sure about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic today?
We know that its effects are not only global in breath on account of the fact that the virus has managed to travel across the length and breath of the globe through movements of people and goods, the virus has also penetrated every aspect of life on this planet throwing our everyday lives out of gear, not sparing even the lives of those who had not traveled, nor sparing the lives of animals (for instance, a tiger in NYC zoo has tested positive having been infected by its caretaker).

We also know that there is an unintended consequence of the Coronavirus that is replete with irony. Which is that the lockdowns having unwittingly slowed down the process of “modern” life has now pointed to the larger, acute and extremely timely realisation that by drastically limiting use of resources and movements (of both people and things), we are finally seeing the earth rejuvenate to the point of being able to breathe.

This grave realisation underscores the sad fact that, as humans, we had collectively chosen to ignore and forget that Nature is an evolutionary reality, functioning and manifesting itself as an interconnected natural system.
By imperiling this otherwise balanced ecosystem through our reckless ways we have actually endangered our own existence. And ironically, it has taken an invisible, seemingly innocuous virus to remind us yet again that this carefully evolved natural system needs to be treated with care.

If we take this valuable realisation as history in its making, then we also know that any design intervention will henceforth need to respect this big picture, and by doing so, we are bound to render solutions that are sustainable, rather than short-lived.

The D’Source Corona Design Challenge (DCDC) as an initiative:
Against this broad, calamitous yet reflective context we need you to brainstorm and look for opportunities where design can now make a difference.

We welcome you to this D'source Corona Design Challenge in seeking creative, innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.

We encourage you to follow a design process in solving the given problem with the steps of understanding the problem, analysis and ideation (the act of coming up with several concepts) resulting in a final solution. This is with the intention that your solutions are based on sound judgment. We request you to seek guidance from your faculty and professionals in the process of solving the problem. (If you need to do user research, do restrict it to online feedback and discussions).

To this effect, ten design problem areas have been identified. You may choose to work on one or more than one area. You also have a choice of working on a problem that you have identified on your own.

 

Participation

Who can participate:
This International call is open to students, fresh graduates, and young designers from around the world. You may work as individuals or work as collaborative groups. You are encouraged to follow a design process in solving the problem, as well as seek guidance from faculty members and professionals.
For the present until the lockdown period continues, the DCDC Design Challenge/competition will remain a strictly online affair.

This design challenge is open to participants from around the world.

 

Accolades

The winning entries will be felicitated as below:
Winning entries will be published in three formats: (a) published online, (b) printed as a book and (c) displayed in a travelling exhibition during 2020-2021 giving full credits to you, your team and your institution.
The winning entries will also be made available for free to download and use as part of the open design initiative. We will promote this initiative through the traditional as well as new medias. This is with the sincere hope that the winning designs will find use in these trying circumstances.
The winners are entitled to free participation (seminar/workshop expenses and food) during the ‘Design Experience Seminar and Workshop’ organized at IIT Bombay during the summer of 2021. These workshops and the seminar will be conducted by design experts.

Each of the winning participants will be given the certificate of winning the ‘D’source Corona Design Challenge Merit Award' along with a trophy for ‘Design Contribution’ and will also receive a copy of the book.

 

Problem Areas


 

 

Details & Submissions


DCDC-1 - Communication Design
Design Challenge:
Creating Awareness Campaign about Corona Virus or Covid-19
Creative and innovative solutions for creating awareness about the virus and promoting ways to take care and be safe
- it could be about keeping safe distance, wearing of masks, regular washing of hands, etc.
- it could be about creating awareness about the safety measures one needs to take at home or while collecting a delivered essentials
- it should be designed such that it is clearly noticeable and easily understood.
- these could be a set of posters or social media visuals or an e-book
- as suited to different media, age groups and literacy levels
- it could be using different medias (set of posters, or a book, or a video)
- traditional as well as modern

Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the solution as a set of posters, or a book, or a video.
In addition, you can include a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Posters:
Size of the final posters: 297mm x 420mm size in either portrait or landscape format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: JPEG or PDF
Color Mode: CMYK
OR
Book:
Size of the final book: 210mm x 300mm size in either portrait or landscape format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: JPEG or PDF
Color Mode: CMYK
OR
Video:
HD quality Video uploaded on drive and submit the link

For online submission (DCDC-1- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . .


References:

Communication Design Resources at D’source
http://www.dsource.in/communication-design



DCDC-2 – Communication Design
Design Challenge:
Typographic Poster on Corona Virus or Covid-19 *
(* also supported by Typoday 2021 - www.typoday.in)
Represent its characteristics and capture its effect on the world with the hopeful positive message that we will overcome this virus - making use of letterforms.
- it could give hope and bring out the cheer for those in quarantine, those who are already patients, health caregivers, people in essential services, the security and the police
You can use
- the Language, Script and Typeface of your choice. You can make use of one letter, one word, many words or even a paragraph composed of words.
- calligraphic or digitally created letterforms or existing fonts, or a combination of these can be used for the poster.
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the solution as a vertical poster of size 420mm x 600mm.
In addition, you can include a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Poster:
Size of the final poster:420mm x 600mm only in portrait format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: JPEG or PDF
Color Mode: CMYK

For online submission (DCDC-2- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . .

Reference:

Typoday Poster Competition winners
http://www.typoday.in/poster_result-20.html
http://www.dsource.in/resource/typography-day-posters-2015



DCDC-3 – Communication Design
Design Challenge:
Visual Informational Identity Program for Corona Virus or Covid-19
Create a strong Identity through Visual Representation of the Corona Virus reflecting its personality as a harmful virus
- the identity should support information representation. For example, the status of the virus (None, Invisible (Asymptomatic), Moderate, Severe) such that it can be used to demarcate zones in hospitals, localities, containment zones, etc. Its main purpose is informational and not promotional.
- the identity should be able to it being used as a caution symbol
- the identity could be dynamic and fluid
- to be deployed across multiple languages, in multiple locations, across countries
- to be represented using various media
- to be used in different applications, surfaces and environments
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A4 size (210mm x 297mm) pages/slides in horizontal PDF format. You can submit maximum of 12 pages/slides (you could include couple of pages/slides for showing the design process that you have followed)
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Page/slide Details:
Size of the final pages/slides (maximum 12 in number): 210mm x 297mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages/slides into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK

For online submission (DCDC-3- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . .

References:

Indian Rupee Symbol
http://www.dsource.in/case-study/indian-rupee-symbol

Logo for 70 Years of Indian Independence
http://www.dsource.in/case-study/logo-70-years-indian-independence
http://www.typoday.in/poster_result-20.html
Visual Order:
http://www.dsource.in/course/design-analysis-and-critics



DCDC-4 – Game Design
Design Challenge:
Card or Board Game on Corona Virus or Covid-19
An innovative game which incorporates the narrative of how to protect oneself from the Corona Virus and capture it in the end.
- as suited to be played by a family
- it could include a strategy of learning about safety measures or how to stop the spread of the virus while playing the game (learn and play methods)
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A3 size (297mm x 420mm) pages in PDF format. You can submit maximum of 3 pages (you could include a page for showing the design process that you have followed). Combine the 3 separate pages into 1 pdf and then submit.
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Page Details:
Size of the final pages (maximum 3 in number): 297mm x 420mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK

For online submission (DCDC-4- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . . .

References:

Games like never before:
http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/projects/idc_games/games.php
Indian Games:
http://www.dsource.in/resource/indian-games
Games like never before – Board Games
http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/projects/idc_games/games.php



DCDC-5 – Narrative Design
Design Challenge:
Story Book on Corona Virus for Children
Fictional imaginary Illustrated Stories for children to grasp the fundamentals/implications of Covid 19 virus in the format of a book
- as suited for children in the age group of 3 to 10
- as suited to different learning levels
- stories could be in modules
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the solution as a book that includes both the illustrations as well as the text. Do include a cover page and a page for credits.
In addition, you can include a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Book:
Size of the final book: 210mm x 300mm size in either portrait or landscape format or in 210mm x 210mm size
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF
Color Mode: CMYK

For online submission (DCDC-5- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . . .

Static Visual Narratives:

http://www.dsource.in/resource/static-visual-narratives



DCDC-6 - Animation Design
Design Challenge:
Character Design of Corona Virus or Covid-19
Create a character of the Corona Virus reflecting its personality as a harmful virus and based on that design a comic strip (3 panels or more)
- the Corona virus is invisible to the naked eye and has so much of mystery connected with how it actually looks and behaves.
- as a character designer, the challenge is to capture its personality and its variations in its life cycle and bring it to life so that it is understandable to the common man.
- you’ll need to understand what scientists have explained about the virus and the visualization of the character has to be done based on understanding this research.
- the character needs to be shown in Front and left profile, various poses, actions and situations.
- the comic strip could be based on an interesting situation regarding the Coronavirus.
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A3 size (297mm x 420mm) pages in PDF format. You can submit maximum of 3 pages  (you could include a page for showing the design process that you have followed). Combine the 3 separate pages into 1 pdf and then submit.
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed. If you have animated the character, do include the link to the animation video (optional)

Page Details:
Size of the final pages (maximum 3 in number): 297mm x 420mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK


For online submission (DCDC-6- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . . .

References:

Animation Design Resources at Dsource
http://www.dsource.in/animation-design

Character Design for Animation
http://www.dsource.in/course/character-design-animation



DCDC-7  - Product Design
Design Challenge:
Design of Modular Portable Isolation Facility for CoronaVirus or Covid-19
Product design of a modular and portable islolation system to be used in hospitals, homes or in quarantine facilities
- to be deployed in various situations, locations and environmental conditions
- Modular set-up and assembly features
- to be set up easily in a short time using minimum number of people

Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A4 size (210mm x 297mm) pages/slides in horizontal PDF format. You can submit maximum of 12 pages/slides (you could include couple of pages/slides for showing the design process that you have followed)
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed.

Page/slide Details:
Size of the final pages/slides (maximum 12 in number): 210mm x 297mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages/slides into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK

For online submission (DCDC-7- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . . .

References:
Product Design Resources at D’source
http://www.dsource.in/product-design

Transformable Furniture
http://www.dsource.in/case-study/transformable-furniture



DCDC-8 – Information Design
Design Challenge:
Information/Visualisation Mapping of CoronaVirus or Covid-19
Capture the narrative of the Corona Virus infection as an information visualization Map with an intention to represent an overview of the spread of the virus
- you could choose to represent overview of the spread of the virus (a) inside the human being (b) in a specific city, country or region (c) across different countries or in a combination of all of these.
- it could show the spread of the Corona Virus across space and time
- it could show how the Corona Virus attacks the human cell and how the human cell protects itself.
- the final visualization could be static or interactive
- do point out aspects/insights which are interesting
Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the solution as a vertical poster of size 420mm x 600mm.
In addition, you can include a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed. Do include the link to the visualization, if it is interactive.

Poster:
Size of the final poster:420mm x 600mm only in portrait format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: JPEG or PDF
Color Mode: CMYK

For online submission (DCDC-8- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . .

References:

Information Design Lab at IDC, IIT Bombay
http://info-design-lab.github.io/
Visual Complexity with examples:
http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/
Information is Beautiful:
https://informationisbeautiful.net/



DCDC-9 – Interaction Design
Design Challenge:
Design of a Covid-19 System to manage crowds in public spaces
Creative Interaction Design/Service Design solutions to find appropriate solutions to manage people in public spaces in view of the infectious Corona Virus Epidemic
- to be deployed in shopping centres, hospitals, airport/railway/bus/shipping, banks, etc wherever a group of people need to access services
- the solution needs to take care of all the safety features to be followed in view of the infectious virus.
- even after the epidemic, these preventive measures could still be operational
- make use of interactive technologies including ICT, mobile
- do consider aspects of time management, booking a time slot, queuing up, etc.

Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A4 size (210mm x 297mm) pages/slides in horizontal PDF format. You can submit maximum of 12 pages/slides  (you could include couple of pages/slides for showing the design process that you have followed)
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed. Do include the link to the interactive prototype or concept video (optional)

Page/slide Details:
Size of the final pages/slides (maximum 12 in number): 210mm x 297mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages/slides into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK

For online submission (DCDC-9- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . . .
References:
Interaction Design Resources
http://www.dsource.in/interaction-design
Information Design Blogs: www.informationdesign.org



DCDC-10 – Design Area of one’s choice
Design Challenge:
Choosing your own Design Area as an Open Design Challenge of choice
You choose a problem to solve of your choice in view of the infectious Corona Virus Epidemic
- identify a problem to solve
- the problem could be centered in any field of design (for example it could be an art installation out of your window that interests people in these times, a rap song based on following safety features, an aid for the disabled, an interactive proximity alarm to maintain safe distance, etc.)
- do follow a design process in solving the problem

Submission Specifications:
You need to submit the final solution and its variations composed on A4 size (210mm x 297mm) pages/slides in horizontal PDF format. You can submit maximum of 12 pages/slides  (you could include couple of pages/slides for showing the design process that you have followed)
In addition, you can submit a write-up of around 300 words explaining the final solution as well as the design process followed. Do include the link to the interactive prototype or concept video (optional)

Page/slide Details:
Size of the final pages/slides (maximum 12 in number): 210mm x 297mm in horizontal format
Resolution: 300 dpi
File type: PDF (combine separate pages/slides into one PDF)
Color Mode: CYMK

For online submission (DCDC-10- Third Round) Click Here. . . . . . .

 

 

Schedule

Submission and Dates:
The third round starting date for submission: 20th June 2020
The third round cut-off date for submission: 15th August, 2020
The third round announcement of results: 31st August, 2020

The second round starting date for submission: 20th May 2020
The second round cut-off date for submission: 15th June, 2020
The second round announcement of results: 30th June, 2020

The first round starting date for submission: 15th April 2020
The first round cut-off date for submission: 15th May, 2020
The first round announcement of results: 31st May, 2020

Submission of entries with design solutions need to follow the prescribed format (Mentioned Above).

As this is a current issue, the selection will be done on an ongoing, continuous basis by a panel of experts. Hence, please submit your designs as early as possible. There is no limit to the number of winning entries.

 

Contact

D’source Corona Design Challenge
IDC School of Design
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai, Mumbai 400 076, India.

Phone Number (after the lock-out period in Mumbai)
+91-022-2576 7820


Do contact us by email

Email:

DsourceChallenge@gmail.com


FAQs:

For FAQs Click Here. . . . . . .


References:

For References Click Here. . . . . . .


Downloads:

For Download of Banners Click Here. . . . . . .



Registration:

To faculty members/teachers, we request that you take the initiative to inform, motivate and guide your students to work on finding solutions by addressing the problem areas listed.

To all working professionals, we request that you volunteer some of your time to mentor students or young designers who may be working with you as interns or colleagues.

To all students, fresh graduates, and young designers, registration will help us connect with you with regard to references, sharing reports, connecting with mentors and sending you updates with regard to this design challenge.

Accordingly, we also urge faculty members, professionals, students, fresh graduates, and young designers to go ahead and register so that we can keep you in the loop and acknowledge your help. Further, this will help us build connections and form networks for future references.

 

 

 

Supporting Organisations:


MHRD Govt. of India
for supporting D'source