DesignUp Futures Challenge 2025 Invites Bold Visions for the Future of Currency
Bengaluru, September 1, 2025 – DesignUp, Southeast Asia’s largest community-led design-in-tech platform, has launched an international competition calling on the next generation of creative thinkers to radically reimagine the concept of currency for the year 2050. The Futures Challenge 2025, free to enter, is open to students, recent graduates, and freelancers across India, Southeast Asia, and Europe, with submissions closing on September 7, 2025.
The speculative design challenge pushes participants to look beyond physical cash and digital wallets to envision a future where currency could be based on intangible values like trust, reputation, attention, or energy. In a world transformed by climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical shifts, the competition asks: What will we value, and how will we exchange it?
Bridging the Gap Between Talent and Opportunity
More than just an academic exercise, the challenge is a direct response to a critical issue within the design industry: the growing disconnect between an oversupply of skilled graduates and a shrinking pool of entry-level opportunities, a trend exacerbated by AI automation. With over 700 participants already engaging with the submission kits, the initiative aims to provide a vital platform for visibility and career advancement.
“Today’s students face a paradox with too many portfolios and too few opportunities,” said Jay Dutta, Founder & Curator of DesignUp. “This isn’t just a design competition; it’s an opportunity to dream, rethink, and build a world from the ground up. One needn’t be a design student. Just curiosity and creative thinking with an imagination ready to be stretched. The Challenge will give the participants visibility, recognition, and a global stage. We want to give young voices a thoughtful platform to break through.”
Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp] | indianowme@gmail.com
A Global Jury of Industry Legends
The submissions will be evaluated by a panel of renowned international experts from design, technology, and futurism. The jury includes:
-
Dr. Isabella Hermann, Political Scientist and Science Fiction Analyst
-
Katja Forbes, Global Head of Client Experience, StanChart Bank
-
Jochen Paesen, Design Director, KIA
-
Rainer Wessler, Chief Design Officer, DBS Bank Singapore
-
Subodh Kolhe, Senior Design Leader, Jar Money App
The challenge has been designed in collaboration with Futur2 Studio in Berlin, underscoring its global perspective.
Prestigious Rewards and Career Pathways
Up to ten entries will be shortlisted for special recognition, with three finalists selected to present their concepts live on the main stage at the DesignUp 2025 conference in Bangalore this November.
Winners will receive an all-inclusive conference experience, including domestic travel, accommodation, and free passes worth up to ₹50,000. They will also be awarded a unique trophy crafted by Xclusiv (Studio ABD). Crucially, finalists will gain access to a network of over 1,000 professionals and potential placement opportunities with partner companies including Jar, Eka.care, Unlimits.ai, and IdeaSpice.
Registration for the DesignUp Futures Challenge 2025 is open until September 7, 2025. Participants can submit their entries and find more information at 25.designup.io/challenge.
