Future Project Challenge, A 21-Day Journey of Creative Learning and Self-Discovery 2024-04-02

Future Project Challenge

A 21-Day Journey of Creative Learning and Self-Discovery

Creators often wonder, “What is it that I truly love?” “I want to create something I love, but I don’t know where to start.” Smilegate Future Lab has stepped up to address these concerns for the ‘creators of the future.’ The lab launched a 21-day youth networking program called ‘Future Project: Challenge’ (hereafter ‘Challenge’), designed to help participants discover their interests and grow through creative learning. At the meetup held on March 7, aspiring creators gathered, their faces filled with anticipation for their upcoming creative journeys.

Calling All Future Creators Interested in Exploring Their Passions

The core goal of the Challenge is to provide participants with the time and space to “plan and explore at their own rhythm.” Yoo Ji-Yeon, a member of the Future Lab’s creative team, shared, “Over the past 5–6 years of running creative support programs, we’ve observed that not only teenagers but also many young adults struggle to identify their true interests. This Challenge was designed with those young adults in mind, to help them discover what they’re passionate about and support their growth.” Indeed, the average age of participants selected for this program was 30, highlighting how many adults are still searching for their creative direction. 

Future Project Challenge START!

The official launch of the Challenge began with a meetup held at Future Lab on March 7. The event served as a motivational workshop, where participants set study goals, refined their mindsets, and envisioned their more developed selves 21 days later. Here are the six key steps designed to inspire participants as they embark on their creative learning journey.  

STEP 1. Let’s Say Hello~

The first step of the workshop was self-introductions! Participants with diverse backgrounds—including university students, webtoon artists, nurses, instructors, and indie game developers—shared their interests such as 3D game animation, illustration, writing, and game design. As they discussed their interests, current occupations, and reasons for joining the Challenge, they grew closer to one another. 

STEP2. Why Do I Want to Learn?

This session was designed for participants to deeply reflect on their interests. They wrote answers to questions such as ‘Why am I learning this?’, ‘What does this mean to me?’, and ‘Does this bring me joy?’ By writing about their interests, participants organized their thoughts, reaffirmed their motivations, and gained a deeper understanding of their passions. 

STEP3. Talking & Listening

The next session was for presenting what participants had written about their areas of interest in groups. They listened to others' presentations, explored diverse interests, and engaged in asking and answering questions. Through this time, participants solidified their determination to take on their challenges. 

STEP4. Thinking Through Again

It was time to make personal study habits. Participants carved out time from their busy daily schedules over the 21 days and created detailed plans to complete the challenge. They carefully considered when and where to focus on their studies. 

STEP5. Setting Today's Goals

Participants learned how to implement their plans by writing down specific study goals for the day. By planning where, when, and how long to study, they were able to visualize a clearer picture of their success after 21 days.

STEP6. Rooting for Myself

Finally, participants wrapped up the meetup by writing encouragement cards for themselves. With the support card kits provided, they wrote motivational quotes, sayings, or personal affirmations to boost their courage and reaffirm their commitment to completing the 21-day challenge. 

See You Again at the Completion Ceremony on March 28

During the 21-day challenge, Future Lab provides various forms of support. Each participant receives about 30,000 KRW in study book support, and small gifts are offered as encouragement for regularly sharing progress. On the final day, March 28, a ‘salon’ event will be held for participants to reflect on their study journey and present their creative outcomes. We look forward to seeing how the participants grow through their journey of self-discovery over the next three weeks. 

Mini Interview – Kim Jun-Young

My name is Kim Jun-Young, and I hope to work in game planning. I applied to this challenge to break out of my stagnant routine with a new endeavor. Over the next 21 days, I plan to develop a horror game. Since this is a new challenge, I’m a bit worried about completing the game within the time, but today’s meetup gave me a lot of courage. Especially since it’s not easy to cheer myself on with words like ‘Don’t worry, you did well,’ writing today’s encouragement card really empowered me. I’m looking forward to seeing a new version of myself in 21 days.

Mini Interview – Kim Joo-Yeon

My name is Kim Joo-Yeon, and I’m preparing for a career in game QA (Quality Assurance). I’ve been into games since childhood, which naturally led me to take an interest in game development. Before entering university, I even helped develop an indie game with friends and released it on the Play Store. After graduating, I worked as a QA contractor at various game companies, and now I’m job hunting. I happened to see a recruitment notice for the challenge program at Smilegate Future Lab and thought it was the perfect opportunity for me. During the challenge, I plan to study for certifications and languages that will help with my job prospects. I’ll work hard to set and achieve my goals, following the rhythm I established during the meetup