Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

THE fourth Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Creative Design Competition for Young Talent is now accepting entries, with a submission deadline of March 15 next year.

The competition is set to officially launch today, according to a press conference held by the Shenzhen government Friday.

This contest, a highlight of Shenzhen Design Week, is exclusively for primary and secondary school students from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Open to primary and high school students under the age of 19, including those from vocational high schools and technical secondary schools, the competition encourages entries across four thematic categories — new inventions in sci-tech, new media of creativity, new perspectives on design, and the new world of science fiction.

Under the theme “Exchange and Mingling, Creating the Future,” the competition will award 159 prizes. The total value of cash and in-kind awards is 402,000 yuan (about US$56,300).

A jury of 12 experts from relevant fields will conduct the final review in late March 2026, and an awards ceremony will follow in late April.

Beyond recognition, winners will gain unique opportunities to participate in key creative activities and tour major cultural landmarks across Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao.

The competition will also partner with renowned design firms, fashion brands, tech startups, and arts and cultural organizations to offer internship programs for winners.

Since its inception in 2023, the competition has become a hallmark of Shenzhen Design Week and a premier platform for young creatives that injects fresh energy into the cultural and creative industries of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to the news conference.

Shenzhen Design Week, launched in 2017, is the city’s largest international design event. Shenzhen was named a UNESCO “City of Design” in 2008 — the first Chinese city to earn the title — and has since grown into a major design hub. At present, it boasts more than 200,000 designers.