The Post-Capitalist City of Your Dreams

We’re all familiar with the Burning Man aesthetic, and the post-apocalyptic fantasies, both dystopic and utopic, that litter the imaginative realms of Hollywood’s best. In response to the popularity of the (post) apocalyptic meme, and in the wake of the global financial crisis, a design contest has been launched that invites you to envision the post-capitalistic city of your dreams.



Collegelab, a new competition platform aimed at prospective thinking and revolutionary urban design, has launched a yearlong competition based on the idea of a post-capitalist city. There will be four themed contests throughout the year, the first one will be about re-envisioning consumer culture, while later contests will focus on work, lifestyle and transportation.

This first contests asks participants to reconsider what cities would be like if their glory was no longer dependent on the economic opportunities therein. What would it be like to obtain goods and services if shopping and commercial culture were entirely totally transformed? Participants are encouraged either to expand their vision to cover the globe, or else to hone in on a particular, focused idea, as it will manifest on a street corner or in a certain neighborhood.

The deadline to enter the first contest is July 1st, 2012. It costs about $39 to enter the contest and the total of all entry fees will be divided as prize money for the top two designs. So get busy drafting the post-capitalist city of your dreams!

Image: "Post Post Apocalypse Civilization" by Marshall Astor on Flickr courtesy of Creative Commons Licensing.