THE INDEX PROJECT

The Index Project, formerly INDEX: Design to Improve Life, was born in 2002 and initially tasked with running a large-scale design award to further brand Denmark as a progressive design nation. While Denmark already had strong roots in design, we weren’t convinced that a traditional design award would have the impact we wanted. Our founder, Kigge Hvid, wanted to push the boundaries but, she wasn't exactly sure how. So, she went on a knowledge sabbatical — travelling the world, talking and l... istening. She met with designers, media, scientists, academics, artists and experts of design and innovation. And everyone, no matter who or where pointed to the potential of design to solve real needs in our society. That’s when our mission became clear: we need to redefine design from a commercially driven disciple to one that’s used to improve quality of life — for everyone. The first Index Award was launched in 2005, and like most award programs, was initiated to celebrate the world’s best and brightest within the field. But, little did we know, it would be so much more than that. The humble concept of design to improve life grew into a global movement. And now, people all over the world — from kids as young as six to celebrated visionaries — are using design to bring humanity forward. We’ve all come a long way since 2002 but, there’s still much further to go. Together, the world is facing countless critical problems, from cybersecurity to climate change, species extinction to social inequality. And now, more than ever, we need optimism and ingenuity. With the right knowledge and community, we can design a better future. But, we have to act now. The Index Project is a call to action. Are you in? Each award cycle we receive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of nominations, which are boiled down to just five winners. But, (and it's a big one) while we believe it's important to celebrate the best, we don't believe the impact should stop there. The Index Award pipeline is an invaluable and ever-growing source of great solutions, regardless of winning status, that are ripe for investment — both human and financial. That's why we've gone beyond award-giving to invest.More