BFI CHALLENGE AWARD | 10th Anniversary

The 21st century ushers in a new set of challenges to the future of humanity: Climate Change, Loss of Natural Habitat and Species Diversity, Resource Depletion and Social and Economic Equality. Our technologies and human ingenuity are ever expanding; ironically, the consequences of this progress puts the future of humanity in jeopardy.

In the 1960s, Buckminster Fuller put forth a challenge to world architectural students to engage in a design revolution. He called it the design science decade. He proposed that this be accomplished through a “Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science, which is the effective application of the principles of science to the conscious design or our total environment helping to make the Earth’s finite resources meet the needs of all humanity without disrupting the ecological processes of the planet.”

In 2007, the Buckminster Fuller Institute reintroduced the Challenge, socially responsible design’s highest award. The Challenge continued each year for 10 years, with 2017 marking the tenth anniversary of the award. In this period of time, a wide range of designs solutions were submitted, each addressing a particular challenge identified by teams and individuals from around the world.

Throughout the 10 years, BFI retained Whirlwind to produce a film to introduce the finalist and winner for each year. In 2017, Whirlwind produced a film documenting the legacy of the awards and commemorating the 10 finalists.

The 21st century ushers in a new set of challenges to the future of humanity: Climate Change, Loss of Natural Habitat and Species Diversity, Resource Depletion and Social and Economic Equality. Our technologies and human ingenuity are ever expanding; ironically, the consequences of this progress puts the future of humanity in jeopardy.

In the 1960s, Buckminster Fuller put forth a challenge to world architectural students to engage in a design revolution. He called it the design science decade. He proposed that this be accomplished through a “Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science, which is the effective application of the principles of science to the conscious design or our total environment helping to make the Earth’s finite resources meet the needs of all humanity without disrupting the ecological processes of the planet.”

In 2007, the Buckminster Fuller Institute reintroduced the Challenge, socially responsible design’s highest award. The Challenge continued each year for 10 years, with 2017 marking the tenth anniversary of the award. In this period of time, a wide range of designs solutions were submitted, each addressing a particular challenge identified by teams and individuals from around the world.

Throughout the 10 years, BFI retained Whirlwind to produce a film to introduce the finalist and winner for each year. In 2017, Whirlwind produced a film documenting the legacy of the awards and commemorating the 10 finalists.