ADI Design Museum, the prestigious institution that presents the world-renowned Compasso d'Oro, and Kookmin University, Asia's leading design education institution, are jointly hosting 'DBEW Award 2026.' The award will accept submissions from design students and educators worldwide from January 1 to March 15, 2026.
Award Vision Under the vision of "Design Beyond East and West," DBEW pursues harmonious design that integrates Eastern and Western values for a sustainable future society.
Award Mission 'DBEW Award 2026' is an international design award established to present future directions for global design education and to discover creative talents who harmoniously integrate Eastern and Western values in the AI age.
What Makes DBEW Award Unique 'DBEW Award 2026' evaluates not only completed design outcomes but also the excellence of works born from creative educational processes. By defining education and learning as a form of design collaboration, this is the first international design award to discover talents equipped with 'sustainable future thinking, cultural balance and diversity, creative experimental spirit, and global design leadership,' while officially recognizing the creative leadership of educators demonstrated throughout this collaborative process.
Key Information
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)
Awards & Recognition:
• Total Prize Fund: Over USD 25,000
• Gold Prize: USD 10,000 + Certificate (Minimum 1 awardee)
• Silver Prize: USD 3,000 + Certificate (Minimum 3 awardees)
• Bronze Prize: USD 1,000 + Certificate (Minimum 6 awardees)
• Honorable Mention: Certificate (Minimum 30 awardees)
• Winning works will be exhibited at Milan Design Week 2026
• Selected works will be featured in DBEW publications
Timeline
o Application Period: January 1 – March 15, 2026
o Evaluation Period: March 16 – 25, 2026
o Final Results Announcement: Late March, 2026
o Award Ceremony: April 21, 2026, Milan Design Week (ADI Design Museum)
o Exhibition: October 2026, Seoul Design Week (DDP Seoul)
World-Class Jury Panel
The award will be assessed through a two-stage evaluation process conducted by a distinguished panel of internationally renowned leaders in the field of design:
Jury Members:
- Paola Antonelli
(Senior Curator, Museum of Modern Art, USA)
- John Thackara
(Author, Curator, Educator, UK-France)
- Stefano Giovannoni
(Designer, Giovannoni Design, Italy)
- Byoung Soo Cho
(Architect, BCHO Architects, Korea)
- Angela Rui
(Head of MA Programs, Istituto Europeo di Design, Italy)
- Daniel Libeskind
(Architect, Studio Libeskind, Poland-USA)
- Zhou Yanyang
(Professor, Tsinghua University, China)
- Lou Yongqi
(President of Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Former Dean, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, China)
- Jin Kuramoto
(Product Designer, Jin Kuramoto Studio, Japan)
Evaluation Criteria
Specific Evaluation Points:
• Originality presenting a new perspective
• Innovation through convergent and interdisciplinary thinking
• Relevance to the AI era
• Aesthetic completeness and formal refinement
• Sustainability value and social responsibility
• Clarity of presentation and communication
Global Partnership
Co-organizers:
- ADI Design Museum (Compasso d'Oro, Milan)
- Kookmin University (Seoul)
Organization Partners:
- Embassy of Korea in Italy
- Italian Cultural Institute Seoul
- Korean Cultural Center in Italy
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network
- CUMULUS (International Design University Network)
- DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)
- Asia Culture Center
- Korean Federation of Design Association
Media Partners:
- DESIGNBOOM
- DOMUS Magazine
- Maekyung Media Group
- Designhouse
- Design Jungle
Inquiry & Submission
Website: www.dbewaward.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @dbew.award
Organizing Institutions:
ADI Design Museum
P.za Compasso d'Oro, 1, 20154 Milano MI, Italy
www.adidesignmuseum.org
Kookmin University
77 Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Korea
www.kookmin.ac.kr
About DBEW
DBEW (Design Beyond East and West) holds its annual forum and exhibition at the ADI Design Museum to reflect the design values and aesthetics of Asian culture within the global design movement. Since 2023, DBEW has been building a platform for dialogue between Eastern and Western design cultures through forums in Milan and Seoul, exhibitions, and academic exchanges.
