AKQA’s Future Lions 2021 Winners and Grand Prix revealed: Grand Prix won by Singapore duo

In its 15th year, Future Lions is AKQA’s annual competition to unearth the next generation of creative talent. The 2021 competition, together with partners the LEGO Group and Wired, encourage young people aged 18 – 25 to showcase how technology and imagination is an essential skill set to Rebuild The World. This year’s contest broke previous records, with submissions from over 87 countries, 525 schools and entries from over 2,300 young people making it the most successful year to date.

One of the four winning entries has been crowned the Future Lions Grand Prix. In a first for the competition, the Grand Prix winning team will work with the LEGO Group and AKQA to explore the idea further over the next year.

This year’s Future Lions exclusive seminar is free to view here from 21 June, 11am BST, making it one of the few Lions Live Exclusive Picks events of 2021. Each winning idea will receive a limited edition Future Lion Lego trophy.

This year’s winners presented the following concepts:
Invented by Kids
The power of a kid’s imagination is often undermined by parents. They simply do not see the need for imaginative play. To prove a point, Invented by Kids would use LEGO® bricks to turn kids’ imagination into reality.

Team: Faith Low, Lydon Ong
School: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Singapore Management University

Let’s Go
Let’s Go would use LEGO® bricks fitted with solar panels to harness the power of the sun as a source of energy, using LEGO bricks as an eco-friendly alternative to standard power sources.

Team: Daniel Rosero
School: Brother Barcelona

Digital Assistance
Digital Assistance would involve the creation of adaptive computer aided design software which uses eye tracker technology allowing children to build their own creations without the use of fine motor skills and hand strength.

Team: Hannah Hargreaves
School: Leeds Arts University

ToDo
ToDo would allow the creation of a digital to-do list designed to assist children with lowered executive skills such as ADHD, by reimagining their routines as LEGO building instructions.

Team: Zackarias Lindskog, Hedda Hyland, Henric Gustavsson, Lovisa Zeiloth, Henrik Billing
School: Berghs School of Communication

The Grand Prix winner is:
Invented by Kids
Team: Faith Low, Lydon Ong
School: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Singapore Management University

For the first time, Brother Creativity School is named Future Lions School of the Year, having received the second highest number of entries, the most shortlisted finalists than any other school and being awarded a winning entry.

Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group, said: “The next generation will be in charge of the way we Rebuild Our World, so unleashing their creativity through the Future Lions competition has never been so important. Our mission has always been to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow, and we believe play is essential to unlock creativity and possibilities for all children, no matter their age, gender, background, abilities, or interests.”

“We are really excited that this competition provides young creatives with the chance to be celebrated and grants access to opportunities that will help them grow and develop in the future. We were left in awe of the talent and creativity that emanated through the entries we received this year. It was a true joy to see the pipeline of great thinkers we have coming through and the amazing concepts they are already coming up with today. We can’t wait to work with these creative minds in the future.”

AKQA Chief Creative Officer Peter Lund said: “We’ve always held a special kinship to the winning ideas; a desire to see them blossom and influence the world. This year we are honouring ideas all worthy to be put into practice and we couldn’t be more excited to see one winning idea take its next steps.”