Has someone else turned your idea into a reality?

The world around us is full of exciting and transformative inventions that have become a key part of our daily lives. Innovations such as the light bulb, the telephone, the combustion engine, the internet, and many others that we see and use every single day – taking their availability for granted without a second thought. But what do each of these ingenious products have in common?

They were all at one time just a basic idea! It took one person to think of a concept that at the time might not have appeared to be groundbreaking, but that today we look back at and say, ‘how did we live without it?’, as without this single idea, the world as we know it would be a very different place.

This is the question that drives us all. The fact is that we are all able to make positive contributions to the world we live in, to shape and touch the lives of millions today and billions tomorrow. However, to achieve this, we all need both a great initial idea and the right support to make it a reality. We all have ideas of products that could work but there never seems to be either the time or support to realise these product ideas.

Design Council Spark, one of the UK's leading design innovation support programmes has changed this. Design Council Spark not only brings together ideas from undiscovered innovators right across the United Kingdom, but also provides the expert industry support and financial backing needed to turn those ideas into a reality. Successful Spark finalists undertake an intensive 16-week programme that challenges designers and innovators who come from all walks of life, to develop their concept and deliver a product that will help change people’s lives for the better.

Don’t let somebody else get the credit for your idea:

Who is Tesla? He invented the radio, however, wider belief was that it was Marconi.

With top product ideas being selected from the hundreds of applications made each year, entrants can expect to be challenged, but the rewards if successful are game-changing. Those who are are selected as finalists on the 16-week programme will be awarded £15,000 funding to help the progress with the commercialisation of the product. The 16-week programme ends with an investment pitch day where the finalists will get to pitch to the Design Council Spark Investment Panel for a share of up to £150,000 to help accelerate your product to market.

This year we’re looking for innovative product ideas that will make life at home easier and better for all through our Home Innovation Challenge. We’re partnering with Alzheimer’s Society, the only UK charity that campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia today. 

Applications are now open and we invite you to take this opportunity to turn your new idea into a real-life product.

Apply now to Design Council Spark Home Innovation Challenge.