Riyadh hosts the closing ceremony of the fourth edition of the “Designathon” challenge
The Architecture and Design Arts Commission concluded the fourth edition of the Designathon Challenge, the region’s premier design event, held in Riyadh at the non-profit Mohammed bin Salman City (MiSK). The event, which has become a landmark in the creative landscape, witnessed broad international participation, with over 2,400 applicants and more than 600 designers and creatives competing, reaffirming the Kingdom’s position as a leading global destination for creativity and innovation.
Background of the event and its role in the Kingdom's Vision 2030
This challenge comes within the context of the comprehensive transformation underway in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on developing the cultural and creative sectors as a key pillar of a sustainable national economy. The Architecture and Design Arts Commission, one of the cultural bodies affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, is working to build an integrated system that supports designers and creatives. Designathon is one of its most prominent initiatives, aimed at empowering local talent, creating a stimulating and competitive environment, and connecting them with global expertise.
A global platform to promote national development
In this regard, the CEO of the Architecture and Design Arts Commission, Prince Nawaf bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, affirmed that Designathon has become an influential global platform for promoting the role of design as a pivotal sector in national development. He pointed out that the challenge contributes to empowering talent and building capacity to address urban, environmental, and technological challenges, while simultaneously reflecting the evolution of the design landscape in the Kingdom and solidifying its position on the global architecture and design map. He explained that the Commission, through this initiative, is working to build a sustainable creative ecosystem by providing a stimulating environment that supports innovation and transforms ideas into scalable projects.
Innovative approaches and impactful design solutions
The competition, which had 126 teams qualify for its final stage, focused on three main tracks designed to address contemporary and pressing challenges:
- Design for all: It aims to create inclusive and accessible solutions for everyone, regardless of their physical or social abilities.
- Technology in design: It focuses on integrating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality to provide advanced design solutions.
- Design from the place: It draws inspiration from local identity and the rich Saudi cultural heritage to produce authentic and sustainable designs.
The participants relied on design thinking and participatory design methodologies, which contributed to raising the quality of the projects submitted and producing solutions that are applicable on the ground.
Winners and prizes exceeding half a million riyals
Following intense competition and presentations before a panel of expert judges, nine winning teams were awarded cash prizes totaling over 525,000 Saudi Riyals. The results were as follows:
- The “Design for All” track: First place went to the “MUDD” team, second place to the “VENTAA” team, and third place to the “ArchMade” team.
- “Technology in Design” track: First place: “FORMA” team, second place: “CREATIVE CATALYST” team, and third place: “THE HEROES” team.
- The “Design from Place” track: First place went to the “Sajjad Saf” team, second place to the “Sameem” team, and third place to the “Shaddad” team.
Capacity building and a legacy of success
The event wasn't limited to competition; it also offered participants a comprehensive learning experience through dialogue sessions and specialized workshops presented by more than 45 mentors and experts in various design fields. This fourth edition builds upon the successes of previous editions of the challenge, with the third edition in 2023 achieving a global milestone by entering the Guinness World Records as the largest design hackathon in terms of the number of participants—a clear indication of the growing interest in design and its increasing role in the Kingdom's cultural and creative landscape.
