A live public design challenge inviting participants to transform overlooked spaces into opportunities for interaction, engagement and community.
Discover the Challenge →4–5
July
2026
(Tentative)
Venue
To Be
Announced
Over two days, teams will design and build site-specific interventions using reclaimed and discarded materials sourced from the venue and surrounding context.
The result: temporary installations that activate public spaces and encourage interaction.
Locate
Teams are assigned a location within the festival venue.
Observe
Participants study the site, context and user behaviour.
Concept
Design concepts are developed around a shared theme.
Build
Teams build their intervention using reclaimed materials and site waste.
Evaluate
Installations are experienced and evaluated live by the public and jury.
Rather than designing in isolation, teams respond directly to the space they are assigned.
From circulation corridors to gathering areas, each intervention must be designed specifically for its location and users.
The challenge encourages participants to rethink waste as a resource.
Teams will primarily work with reclaimed materials, discarded site elements and reusable components sourced from the venue and local context.
The objective is not simply to build something beautiful, but to demonstrate how thoughtful design can extend the life of materials and reduce waste.
Projects will be reviewed by architects, designers, educators and industry professionals based on:
To Be Announced
Industry professionals, designers and educators.
07 — Why It Matters
Join students, designers and emerging practitioners in building the first edition of Common Thread.
Register Interest →