DBEW Award 2026

DBEW Award 2026 marks a major international platform for rethinking the future of global design education. Jointly organized by ADI Design Museum in Milan, the institution behind the Compasso d’Oro, and Kookmin University in Seoul, one of Asia’s leading design schools, the award invites design students, educators, and emerging talents worldwide to present projects that transcend cultural boundaries.

Open for submissions from January 1 to March 15, 2026, DBEW Award positions itself at the intersection of education, culture, and innovation, addressing how design can respond to a rapidly transforming world shaped by artificial intelligence, sustainability challenges, and global interdependence.

A VISION BEYOND CULTURAL POLARITY

Under the guiding theme Design Beyond East and West, the award seeks design approaches that move beyond binary thinking. Rather than opposing traditions, DBEW promotes harmony between Eastern and Western values, encouraging culturally balanced, inclusive, and future oriented perspectives.

At its core, DBEW is not only a celebration of form or function, but an exploration of how cultural intelligence, ethical responsibility, and technological awareness can coexist within contemporary design practice.

EDUCATION AS A CREATIVE ACT

What distinguishes DBEW Award 2026 is its focus on the educational process as a form of design in itself. The jury evaluates not only final outcomes, but also the creative and pedagogical journeys behind them. By framing learning and teaching as collaborative design acts, the award formally recognizes the creative leadership of educators and the experimental spirit fostered within academic environments.

This approach positions DBEW as the first international design award to foreground educational innovation alongside design excellence, highlighting sustainable thinking, cultural diversity, experimental methodologies, and global leadership as core values.

DESIGN DISCIPLINES AND GLOBAL SCOPE

The award welcomes projects across architecture, spatial design, product and fashion design, visual communication, digital media, service design, and AI driven practices. Eligible works must have been created after January 2024 and may be submitted by individuals or teams composed of students and educators, without limitations on team size.

By embracing a broad disciplinary spectrum, DBEW reflects the convergent nature of contemporary design, where boundaries between fields continue to dissolve.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND EXHIBITION

With a total prize fund exceeding 25,000 USD, DBEW Award 2026 offers significant global exposure. Winning projects will be exhibited during Milan Design Week at the ADI Design Museum, followed by a major presentation at Seoul Design Week at DDP later in the year. Selected works will also be featured in official DBEW publications, reinforcing the award’s role as a bridge between academic research and professional discourse.

A WORLD CLASS JURY

The evaluation process is led by an internationally acclaimed jury composed of influential voices in architecture, design, curation, and education. The panel includes Paola Antonelli from the Museum of Modern Art, John Thackara, Stefano Giovannoni, Byoung Soo Cho, Angela Rui, Daniel Libeskind, Zhou Yanyang, Lou Yongqi, and Jin Kuramoto, ensuring a rigorous and multidimensional assessment framework.

Projects are assessed on originality, interdisciplinary innovation, relevance to the AI era, aesthetic quality, sustainability values, social responsibility, and clarity of communication.

A GLOBAL PLATFORM FOR DESIGN DIALOGUE

Beyond the award itself, DBEW operates as an ongoing cultural platform. Through annual forums, exhibitions, and academic exchanges held in Milan and Seoul, DBEW fosters dialogue between Eastern and Western design cultures, reinforcing the role of design education in shaping a more sustainable and culturally intelligent future.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

DBEW Award 2026 invites the next generation of designers and educators to engage in a global conversation about design’s role in society. By challenging conventions and redefining collaboration across cultures, the award seeks projects that do not simply respond to the future, but actively shape it.

Full submission details are available at www.dbewaward.com

Eligibility:

• Design students (undergraduate/graduate) or graduates
• Project Timeline: Works created after January 2024
• Teams may consist of students and educators (professors or instructors) – No limit on team size
• Entry Fee: USD 23

Design Fields (3 Categories):

1. Spatial & Architecture Design (Interior, Architecture, Urban, Public)
2. Product & Fashion Design (Product, Furniture, Fashion)
3. Visual & Communication Design & Service Design (AI, Digital Media, Branding, Service)