On 26 June, the Royal College of Art announced the ten finalists for the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s 2024 Terra Carta Design Lab. Launched in 2021, the Terra Carta Design Lab is a student-led, global competition for high-impact solutions addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis, with previous winners including a wearable device for cows to reduce methane emissions, a start-up spearheading the capture and monitoring of tyre wear, the first 100 per cent recyclable and chemical-free outdoor performance textile, and aerodynamic seed pods made from food waste for plant and tree restoration.
'I am thrilled that the Terra Carta Design Lab has gathered momentum this year to include four international design schools,' says Jony Ive, who launched the project in collaboration with His Majesty King Charles III, then HRH The Prince of Wales. 'The lab elevates the rigorous and imaginative ideas from all these students, and demonstrates the power and importance of multidisciplinary design and collaboration in meeting global challenges.'
2024 Terra Carta Design Lab: meet the finalists
BlueNose, developing solutions to improve the aerodynamics of merchant navy vessels, particularly container ships, in order to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 5%
The 2024 Terra Carta Design Lab is in partnership with long-term supporter, the RCA, as well as three other design universities, including Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (UAE); National Institute of Design Ahmedabad (India); and Rhode Island School of Design (USA). Students and recent alumni from the four schools were invited to develop high-impact solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Seagraft, a project aimed at restoring seagrass beds in coastal waters, providing a highly efficient planting method for seagrass seeds and rhizomes, suitable for mud and sand seabed
The RCA's shortlisted projects 'showcase a wide breadth of innovations and solutions to help address climate change and biodiversity loss and explore themes of regenerating nature, reducing waste, engaging communities, and mitigating climate change impacts,' reads a note introducing the finalists.
These include a soluble-on-demand polymer composite which deteriorates in warm water overnight to tackle e-waste, a project to improve the aerodynamics of merchant navy vessels to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 5%, a series of newly-developed textiles from truly regenerative fibres and a low-cost wildfire detection system imagined for vulnerable communities, among others.
Biofonic, accelerating sustainable agriculture with sonic soil intelligence
Eight winners (two from each university) will be announced in autumn, and the teams behind the winning projects will receive funding and mentorship to further develop their innovations with a goal of scaling them to market.
'I am humbled and inspired to see the level of innovation, ambition, dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the RCA community during the competition so far,' comments Professor Christoph Lindner, President & Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art. 'These ten finalists are the tip of an iceberg filled with potential to change how we live and care for the world in the future. I can’t wait to see the impact they can make. The Sustainable Markets Initiative must be commended for its ambition and its influence in coordinating this global edition of the Terra Carta Design Lab.'
Ponda, a biomaterials company developing novel textiles from truly regenerative fibres
Adds Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative: 'At the Sustainable Markets Initiative, we are accelerating a sustainable future through the collision of ideas and co-creation between the private sector and the next generation of global leaders, including our Design Lab finalists. Their work exemplifies what is possible when we put design, engineering, innovation, technology, art and global experience at the heart of systems-level change.
'[...]As one people, sharing one planet and facing one common future, we have much to learn from this optimistic, multi-disciplinary and multi-generational approach that is embodied in the Terra Carta Design Lab.'
Pyri, an innovative, low-cost wildfire detection system designed with remote, unprepared, and vulnerable communities in mind
Nigh, creating large-scale immersive experiences to raise funds and awareness for the protection of our planet
Aquafade, tackling e-waste with a soluble-on-demand polymer composite which deteriorates in warm water overnight, revolutionising recycling by eliminating costly separation
PulpaTronics, recyclable RFID tags for affordable and sustainable inventory management solutions
Vox Aeris, a retrofittable device using acoustic agglomeration technology to drastically reduce the inefficiencies associated with traditional air filtration methods
-
A revamped Edinburgh apartment combines Californian-style modernism with modern craftArcher + Braun have transformed an apartment in a historic house with finely tuned contemporary additions and sympathetic attention to detail
-
Formafantasma’s biodiversity-boosting installation in a Perrier Jouët vineyard is cross-pollination at its bestFormafantasma and Perrier Jouët unveil the first project in their ‘Cohabitare’ initiative, ‘not only a work of art but also a contribution to the ecosystem’
-
Gingerbread City: architects sculpt London out of the season's favourite treatUntil December 29 in Chelsea, see London brought to life in a seasonal-appropriate medium by leading architects and designers
-
Terra Carta Design Lab announces second editionFor the Terra Carta Design Lab’s second edition, students and recent alumni are invited to design high-impact, low-cost solutions to address the climate crisis
-
LoveFrom to offer design scholarships in USA and UKLoveFrom Scholarships address the lack of diversity throughout the creative industries, and will be available to prospective students at CCA, RISD and RCA
-
HRH Prince Charles and Sir Jony Ive on designing for a better worldFounded and led by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (as he was at the time of publication) and Sir Jony Ive – who headline the August 2022 issue of Wallpaper* – the Terra Carta Design Lab celebrates young designers developing high-impact, low-cost solutions to the climate crisis. Ive speaks exclusively to Deyan Sudjic, Wallpaper* contributing editor and director emeritus of the Design Museum, London
-
Wearables for cows and recyclable performance textiles among Terra Carta Design Lab winnersThe four winners of the Terra Carta Design Lab were announced by HRH the Prince of Wales and Sir Jony Ive in partnership with the Royal College of Art
-
Terra Carta Design Lab announces finalistsHRH Prince Charles and Jony Ive, in collaboration with the Royal College of Art, announce the 20 finalists of the Terra Carta Design Lab
-
Watch: Prince Charles and Jony Ive discuss Terra Carta Design LabAt COP26 in November 2021, Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas talked with Prince Charles and Jony Ive about the Terra Carta Design Lab: watch the video
-
Jony Ive’s LoveFrom unveils Terra Carta Seal designDesigned by Jony Ive to celebrate nature, with an intricate composition of flora and fauna, the Terra Carta Seal represents the charter’s values and will be bestowed upon private sector companies that distinguish themselves for their sustainability efforts
-
Jony Ive’s LoveFrom unveils official websiteLaunched today, 11 October 2021, LoveFrom.com reveals the creative collective’s visual identity, anchored in a Baskerville-inspired typeface called LoveFrom Serif, provides a statement of purpose, and pays gentle homage to Apple’s Steve Jobs
