Critically Yours - Design Challenge on AI and Critical Thinking

Context
This challenge directly addresses this growing concern by exploring how Artificial
Intelligence (AI) can help promote information quality and integrity. It draws inspiration from the EU H2020 Research project TITAN (https://www.titanthinking.eu/). TITAN developed an AI tool that combines the principles of the Socratic method and experiential learning to create an intelligent coaching application. Through interactive dialogues, users are guided to develop the skills needed to deconstruct media narratives, question assumptions, recognize biases, discern truth from manipulation, and independently assess the reliability of content—thereby enhancing critical thinking and media literacy skills, and ultimately contributing to a more trustworthy, informed, and democratic public sphere.

The Challenge
The task is to create an original interactive media project or video centered on the theme
Creating and promoting Culture of Information Quality that focuses on empowering Critical
Thinking with AI. This challenge specifically invites participants to develop creative and innovative interactive media and video that enhance the appeal and user engagement of TITAN. TITAN is an AI-powered Socratic chatbot designed to help individuals identify the signs of disinformation, such as tactics and techniques that undermine information integrity. By guiding users through interactive dialogues, TITAN enables them to self-assess the reliability of content, fostering essential critical thinking and media literacy skills for recognising malicious strategies.
This initiative seeks to raise awareness about the increasing risks posed by fake news and encourage users to engage with TITAN as a tool for critically reflecting on manipulation techniques.

Categories
The challenge aims to collect submissions and award the best outcomes in two categories:

• CATEGORY 1: Interactive Media (e.g., web applications)
• CATEGORY 2: Video (e.g., motion graphics)

Who can participate
This challenge is open to students currently enrolled in Design degree programs, including higher education programs in art, design, or similar courses of study. This includes undergraduate, graduate, PhD programs, or short portfolio programs.
Recent graduates are also eligible, but graduation date must be no earlier than September 2024.
Participation can be individual or collective: there is no limit on the number of students per team, but all team members should meet the above criteria (excluding any faculty advisors).

Submissions

• Registration is free
• participants must submit their projects in digital format through this FORM that will be hosted on the TITAN website.
• All materials and communications related to the contest must be in English.

Find more important submission criteria in the download.

Presentation and Selection 

• If your submission is selected by the Consortium Expert Board, you will be invited to present your work at the TITAN Project final event in Rome.
• Should your submission be selected for use as indicated in these Terms and Conditions, you will receive a payment of 2,000 EUR (the "Selection Payment").
• Travel expenses for selected presenters will also be covered with a maximum of 2,000 EUR travel grant.

Deadlines
Project submissions must be received by 12:00 PM on October 20th, 2025.

Contact
For further information regarding participation in the challenge, please contact:
chiara.ronzoni@valuegs.com or maurizio.mesenzani@valuegs.com