Social design goes digital

Working with FutureGov and Livity, the RSA has launched a competition that challenges entrants to create prototypes of internet-based tools that could help young people find training or employment opportunities.

The competition is part of Google's series of Interactivism challenges, which aims to develop web-based solutions to social problems. Entrants will contribute designs for digital tools that can help meet the needs of the record numbers of 16–24-year-olds who are classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training).

Entries will be accepted online until the end of January. Selected entrants will come together for a weekend 'hackathon' event in February, at which they will work with young people, policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, employers and Google's top software developers to create working prototypes of their ideas. The most promising of these will receive support from participating organisations.

Julian Thompson, RSA director of enterprise, said: "The RSA has a long history of encouraging innovation through prize challenges in design and industry, from the Premiums we offered in the 18th and 19th centuries to our annual Student Design Awards. We're delighted to be able to run this competition on behalf of Google as part of our growing enterprise programme."

Learn more about the RSA's enterprise programme.