Test-Driving the Future: How Design Competitions Are Changing Innovation

As organizations realize the potential of “open innovation” models, design competitions—target-setting events that offer monetary awards and other benefits to contestants—are regaining popularity as an innovation tool. In this paper we look at the innovation agendas of organizations and individuals who sponsor and organize design competitions. We then examine the architecture and governance of such competitions, and explore how open innovation and crowdsourcing, in combination with online platforms, have transformed design competitions. Finally, we look at the evolution of design competitions and highlight their expanding scope and complexity.