AKQA, Gymshark and TikTok Announce Future Lions 2022 Open for Entries

Future Lions, AKQA's annual global competition to unearth the next generation of creative talent, is now open for entries.

This year's Future Lions theme is a call to action for young people aged 18 - 25 to go Further Together. Applicants are encouraged to use their creative skills to show how we empower people to build a better future and overcome the barriers they face to create a healthier life for themselves.

Celebrating its 16th year of the competition, AKQA is proud to announce Gymshark as the official client partner and TikTok as the official media partner for Future Lions 2022.

Four winning teams will pitch their ideas live to an expert creative jury in summer 2022. The awards take place during the iconic Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June. The winning team will earn the opportunity to work with Gymshark and AKQA to bring their imaginations to life. Each of the winning teams will be honoured with a prestigious Future Lions trophy.

Noel Mack, chief brand officer, Gymshark, said: “As a brand that started with a 19-year-old in a garage and the hope to build something better, we really appreciate the value of young creative minds. The standard of creativity and lateral thinking doesn’t get higher than Future Lions. We’re seriously excited for what’s produced as well as the chance to work with the teams, and know that personally I’m going to come away super inspired by what’s to come.”

Trevor Johnson, head of marketing, global business solutions EU at TikTok, said: "Global communities promote connection, diversity and inclusion - they unite us and provide representation. This year’s brief, Further Together, speaks to this by empowering young people to create an inclusive community of the future that they want to be a part of. Celebrating the success communities can have when they are united has never been more important. It's something we see every single day on TikTok, with people creating and sharing, discovering the world around them and connecting with others globally, in a uniquely authentic way. We are honoured to be on this journey with Future Lions alongside AKQA and Gymshark."

Ajaz Ahmed, CEO of AKQA, said: “At the forefront of change and more empowered than ever, today’s youth is the source of social transformation and the catalyst of decisive action. With so many stories yet to be told, young people hold a unique perspective of being able to challenge established and often archaic notions,” said Ajaz Ahmed, CEO and founder of AKQA. “I am grateful to our partners Gymshark and TikTok for their belief in creative energy and the power of new ideas to influence the dreams and direction of what lies ahead.”

Future Lions started the careers of many of today's creative leaders. Last year’s Grand Prix winners, Faith Low and Lydon Ong from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Singapore Management University, were given the opportunity to explore their idea, ‘Invented By Kids’ with the LEGO team.

Last year saw over 525 schools across 81 countries taking part in the competition, a record number of entrants. The school with the highest number of shortlisted entries will be named Future Lions School of the Year. In 2021, this accolade was awarded to Brother Barcelona.

The full brief is available from here, with the closing date for entries 23:59, 18th April 2022.