The Open Call is not only a competition but also a collaborative development process. We invite designers, artists, and multidisciplinary teams to propose new creative concepts inspired by sustainable (S) Hero stories. Participants develop their concepts, form teams, and submit proposals through the Time for (S) Heroes digital portal.
The Open Call opens on 26 March 2026 and proposals can be submitted until 20 September 2026.
The process begins by registering a project idea in the portal.
Each project has one project owner who submits the initial concept. The idea does not need to be fully developed at this stage. The purpose of the first submission is to introduce the concept at a general level and open the possibility for collaboration.
Please note that project ideas are approved manually, and the application process has two steps.
After your project idea has been approved, you will need to complete the Application Form to finalise your submission.
Please make sure to start the process well in advance of the deadline, as the approval and application process may take some time.
Each team can include 3-5 members, including the project owner.
Team members may already know each other, but the platform also allows project owners to connect with new collaborators who are interested in the idea. All participants must register in the portal in order to join a team.
We encourage the formation of multidisciplinary and international teams.
During the open call period teams are encouraged to refine their concept together. Once the idea has been developed and the team composition is complete, the project owner submits the application to the competition through the portal. The submission includes completing an application form in the portal.
In September 2026 the jury will review all submitted proposals through a structured evaluation process.
Step one
Up to five teams may be selected directly to proceed to the residency pathway. This opportunity is intended for proposals that already demonstrate a highly developed concept. The jury will look for ideas that appear close to a finished prototype or could reach a presentation-ready stage with only minor further development. These teams will prepare their work for the digital exhibition planned for November 2026.
Step two
Other proposals that meet the evaluation criteria may receive an invitation to further develop their idea as part of the Design Wave Festival programme. Participants can attend the festival onsite in Riga in November 2026 at their own expense, or join the programme remotely through online participation.
Based on this development phase, the remaining up to five teams will be selected to continue to the residency programme.
Applicants may also choose to apply only for the Digital Exhibition Platform. In this case the proposal will be evaluated for its suitability for digital presentation but will not be considered for the residency competition.
This pathway allows participants to present their ideas, works, or prototypes in the Time for (S) Heroes digital exhibition without committing to the full development process that leads to the residency programme.
Looking to learn more?
This post explains how the open call process unfolds from idea registration to proposal submission and jury evaluation. To understand the full framework of participation, you may also want to read the other posts in the portal:
Open Call: Core themes. The shared themes that should be reflected in every proposal.
Open Call: Categories. The four design brief categories that guide how proposals can be realized.
Open Call: Evaluation. The principles and criteria used by the jury when reviewing and selecting proposals.
Register now, explore the learning materials and submit your idea.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
