2026 Youth Design Challenge

The Global Youth Design Challenge (GYDC) is jointly initiated by the Eastern Heritage Art Fund — established by the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF) and Pechoin — together with the Rams Foundation in Germany. The initiative operates through a cross-sector collaboration framework involving cultural institutions, industry partners, academic communities, creative networks, and public-interest platforms. BCAF serves as the lead coordinating institution, responsible for project governance, international partnerships, public programming, and implementation management. Pechoin supports industry collaboration, prototype development, and pathways for real-world application, while the Rams Foundation contributes international design perspectives and knowledge exchange related to sustainable and human-centered design practices. The initiative is also connected with international creative economy and global partnership networks that support cross-cultural dialogue, youth engagement, and sustainable development collaboration. Through these cooperation networks, the project expands international participation and strengthens connections among creative industry organizations, universities, cultural institutions, and emerging design communities across different regions. Relevant international partners and stakeholders contribute to communication exchange, institutional connectivity, and broader public visibility of the initiative within global creative and social innovation networks. The project further collaborates with curators, educators, designers, and industry experts from different countries to support jury evaluation, public engagement, and interdisciplinary exchange.