Selection Criteria
Each year eight to ten countries participate in IYDEY. The countries are all emerging economies, with a British Council presence in that country. The application to take part in the competition is submitted by the local British Council office to the Creative Economy Unit at the British Council in London. The Creative Economy Unit manages this programme of young creative entrepreneur awards.
Countries are selected to take part of the basis of the quality of the application. The application examines the strength of the design sector in that country, the nature of the partnerships that will support the award, the openness of the competition and the transparency of the selection process, the wrap-around activity that will support the programme in terms of both design and creative economy activities.
Selected countries then create their own award programme, often mirroring the international competition, with a group of finalists being interviewed by a jury of leading local figures in the design sector.
The definitions used throughout the IYDEY process are set out below:
Design sector definition
For the purpose of the IYDEY award participants can be drawn from any of the following sectors:
- Architecture, interiors and environment
- Graphic design: communication, publishing, branding and multimedia
- Product design manufacture: furniture, industrial products and craft
- Interactive and digital media
- Design promotion: exhibitions, events, festivals and retail
- Consultants providing specialist services in this area
Eligibility
A participant must:
- be aged between 25 and 35 (on the closing date for the national competition)
- already work in the sector (as defined above)
- be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability in the promotion of the sector in their country, in either a commercial context, public context, or both
- through their character, drive and abilities demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country
- have English language skills to IELTS 6 - 'competent user' or above
Definition of a creative entrepreneur
For the purpose of this awards programme we are defining creative entrepreneurs as follows:
- a person working in the sector (as defined above) who is able to demonstrate business success in the classic terms of business growth (profit, market share, employees) and/or in terms of their reputation (quality and aesthetic) amongst their peers.
- a person working in the sector (as defined above) who has developed a successful (in terms of impact and reach) social or notforprofit enterprise in this sector.
- a person working in the sector (as defined above) who has shown leadership in the industry by championing its development in their country.
- a person working in the sector (as defined above) who has developed initiatives (exhibitions, trade fairs, festivals etc) that develop and grow the market for the sector in their country.
