For seven years running, World Changing Ideas has celebrated the people and companies working to make the world safer, cleaner, more sustainable, and more equitable. It’s no small feat—but it’s inspiring to see the progress these groups are making and the impact that their projects are already having. This year’s World Changing Ideas Awards recognize more than 250 projects around the world that are pursuing innovation for good.
To get there requires an editorial team that spends months poring over applications, vetting projects, and ultimately telling the stories that bring these projects to life. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how we make it happen.
METHODOLOGY
More than 1,300 applications were submitted to the 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards. A team of staff editors and writers, alongside trusted freelancers, assessed each application based on our criteria, which includes:
IMPACT
We look for projects that have created (or are trying to create) substantive, positive change in the world. We want the impact to be something that can improve lives, society, or the environment—not just business bottom lines.
DESIGN
We think about this both conceptually and physically. We look for projects that have well-thought-out plans for how they’ll create their impact—and how they’ll avoid potential negative externalities. Functionality and aesthetics are also important when we evaluate applications.
SCALABILITY
Projects may be small right now, but do they have the potential to grow and bring the change to more people? We look for ideas that have the ability to change the world. This can mean projects that create enormous change for a small number of people, as well as projects that will create small but substantive change for an enormous number of people. Either way, we look for projects that can scale to serve the entire market they’re targeting.
INGENUITY
We evaluate projects that range from conceptual to just-launched to fully operational. But no matter what stage the idea is in, we judge it on whether it’s bold, new, and innovative. The best entries offer a pathbreaking solution to an important problem.
“World Changing Ideas represents a tremendous amount of work for both people on staff and freelancers,” says Morgan Clendaniel, deputy digital editor at Fast Company. “We tap into these writers’ and editors’ expertise in areas like climate, transportation, and AI to create a highly curated list that showcases the most compelling projects that we believe can have a massive impact.”
Each winner is chosen after multiple rounds of judging and conversations about a project’s role in the current needs and challenges of this moment. This monthslong process ensures that every project chosen to receive a World Changing Idea Award is representative of the best work in its respective field.
Meet the team
Contributors: Sam Becker, Nate Berg, Saleah Blancaflor, Elissaveta M. Brandon, Jessica Bursztynsky, Joanne Camas, Rachel Clarke, Morgan Clendaniel, Kelly Cloonan, Leila Frankina, Shalene Gupta, Julia Herbst, AJ Hess, Jessica Hullinger, Veronica Irwin, Charissa Jones, Harry McCracken, Steven Melendez, Heidi Mitchell, Pavithra Mohan, Chris Morris, Alex Pasternack, Adele Peters, Aimee Rawlins, David Salazar, Elizabeth Segran, Liz Stinson, Kristin Toussaint, Max Ufberg, Talib Visram, Mark Wilson, Jay Woodruff, Christopher Zara
Coordinator: Shealon Calkins
Design/Photo: Alice Alves, Jeanne Graves, Celine Grouard, Heda Hokschirr, Haewon Kye, Anne Latini, Eric Perry, Sandra Riaño, Daniel Salo, Maja Saphir, Mike Schnaidt, Amy Wong
Development: Bryan Cuellar, Cayleigh Parrish