Rotman Design Challenge (RDC)
Objective
The Rotman Design Challenge brings together graduate students from top MBA and design programs worldwide to apply human-centered business design methods to a real-world challenge posed by an industry sponsor, transforming how future leaders think, collaborate, and innovate.
Description
Overview
Hosted by the Rotman Business Design Club (BDC) at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, the Rotman Design Challenge (RDC) is an international case competition running since 2011, now in its 15th edition. The 2026 edition is sponsored by Manulife.
Who It's For
- Graduate-level students from MBA, design, and interdisciplinary programs worldwide
- Teams of 4-5 students; cross-program and cross-school teams welcome
- No limit on number of teams per school
Format
- 8-week immersive experience combining research, prototyping, and storytelling
- Round 1: virtual challenge on user research, creativity, and problem framing (prompt released January 20, 2026); top 10 teams shortlisted
- Round 2: guided business design journey with mentorship (Manulife mentors) and three workshops, culminating in a two-day in-person final at Rotman School of Management
- Judges are senior design and business leaders from Manulife and RDC's industry network
Notable Details
- Free to participate
- Finalist teams receive visa support letters; travel is self-funded but discounted hotel rates and finals-day meals are provided
- Projects are portfolio-ready and encouraged for showcasing
Eligible Schools
Aalto University School Of Economics
Carnegie Mellon - Tepper School Of Business
Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
DeGroote School Of Business - McMaster University
Harvard Business School
Illinois Institute Of Technology - Stuart School of Business
Michigan Ross School Of Business
MIT Sloan School Of Management
Northwestern University - Kellogg
NYU Stern School Of Business - New York University
Toronto - Rotman School Of Management
UC Berkeley - Haas School Of Business
University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
University Of Victoria
Yale School Of ManagementOCAD University, Delft University of Technology, DeGroote School of Business, California College of the Arts, IIT Institute of Design
Finals, March 20-21, 2026, Rotman School (Toronto)
January 01, 2026
Public
Business School
Career
innovation
International
Leadership
Networking
Recruiting
businessdesignclub@rotman.utoronto.ca
Toronto - Rotman School Of Management
Rotman Business Design Club (BDC), Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Rotman Business Design Initiative (BDI)
Up to $10,000 CAD in total cash prizes (exact breakdown by place not published for the current edition)