Design4Impact 2

Design4Impact (D4I) is an open innovation platform that brings together like-minded, public-spirited groups and individuals to address some of the biggest health and social challenges encountered during the Covid-19 pandemic. Design4Impact sets the stage for the design of solutions to mitigate the negative impact faced by vulnerable groups in Singapore, during and beyond the pandemic.

The second edition of D4I will be launched in October 2021.

There are three challenge statements for teams to develop innovative ideas and co-create sustainable community-owned solutions.

As part of D4I2 all participants will attend industry-led design thinking workshops with pedagogy and training jointly developed by the NUS Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS) and DesignSingapore Council School of X (Dsg SoX); an opportunity to pitch their ideas to attain seed funding; and be guided and championed by sector developers to implement their winning solutions in the community.

D4I2 will see community providers, grassroots organisations, social service agencies, caregivers, residents, public service officers, corporate volunteers and persons with lived experience coming together to co-design implementable and sustainable solutions to help Singaporeans thrive during and beyond Covid-19.

Boon Lay Edition

D4I2 will be based on the needs and capabilities of communities in Boon Lay, one of MOHT’s upcoming Healthy Precinct pilot sites. Pilots from D4I2 can leverage on existing efforts from MOHT’s outreach in Boon Lay, which involve MOHT working closely with community partners to catalyse community movements and strengthen social networks in this region, and a pilot Behavioural Needs Assessment in two zones within Boon Lay which will provide insights into the social environmental determinants of Boon Lay residents.

Whilst D4I2 would benefit from the existing networks, relationship and infrastructural support fostered in Boon Lay, we welcome ideas and initiatives that could be piloted in other areas of Singapore. You may work with your team facilitators to explore these options.

Design4Impact Webinar Series

Before the launch of D4I2, you can look forward to two webinars that will provide valuable insights into the mental health landscape based on the three challenge statements. The webinars will convene panelists who will expound on current mental health-related issues faced by various groups within the community: seniors, caregivers and youths. Persons with lived experience will also share their perspectives on the mental health landscape, articulating their aspirations and hopes on what could be done.

The pre-event webinars, slated to be held on 15 and 16 September, will give interested participants an opportunity to learn more about the mental health landscape and make an informed decision on which challenge statement to adopt.

Challenge Statement #1
Meeting the mental health & wellbeing needs of seniors

With physical distancing as a necessary measure to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, social isolation is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue for our seniors. This is especially so for seniors who may not know how to adopt technologies to maintain their social connections in a digital space, and who are living alone. With little means of maintaining their social ties, seniors may be at risk of having little social support to get them through trying times. Disruptions from Covid-19 may have also led to heightened fear, anxiety and a sense of helplessness among seniors.

With this, how might we develop solutions to better support our seniors’ mental health needs?

Challenge Statement #2
Empowering caregivers to improve their mental health & wellbeing

Caregivers take on the responsibility of looking after someone who is unable to care for himself or herself fully due to illness, frailty, disability or a mental health condition. With uncertainty surrounding economic conditions and livelihoods, as well as the disruptions to care services and social activities, caregiving has become even more challenging during this period of time.

How might we enable caregivers to improve their mental health and wellbeing?

Challenge Statement #3
Facilitating youths' help-seeking behaviour for mental health & wellbeing

Pressure to do well in studies, an unabated pandemic climate and an unstable job market may cause mental distress for students and young working professionals. With the future looking uncertain, mental health and wellbeing could take a hit and depressive symptoms or anxious thoughts can seep in more easily.

How might we increase the accessibility for youths to get mental health support early?

Funding

Top three ideas selected by our judges will qualify for an implementation funding of S$12,000 each to be used for piloting of prototypes.

Thereafter, there is also potential for teams to obtain more funds and work with relevant stakeholders to implement and scale your projects.

Seed grant awardees will be required to sign a funding agreement with MOHT and NCSS. More details on the funding agreement will be shared with the winning teams after D4I2.

Participants' Roles

We need your help to:

• Use your unique expertise to contribute to solving community issues

• Use your imagination to reimagine new futures to create a better world

• Contribute to the public good
  

​What you will get to do:

• Rally your community to actively ideate solutions to community challenges

• Work with people from different backgrounds

• Learn and practice design thinking in a real-world context

• Ideate & co-develop solutions that could influence practice and policies

• Do good & contribute in a meaningful manner
  

Be prepared to:

• Attend workshops weekly during the challenge

• Engage in self-directed (outside of scheduled seminars) development of your idea with teammates and mentor(s)

• Users who are keen to test out and provide feedback on the participants’ prototypes.

• Content resource personnel from community providers, grassroots organisations, Social Service Agencies and other partners who can provide knowledge and insights on the challenges and problem statements to the participants.
  
  

• Sponsors who would like to support our operational costs.

• Implementation partners who are keen to come onboard to implement the pilot prototypes, together with the winning teams.
  
  Email design4impact2@gmail.com and we will be in touch!