“Design is not just the finished product; it is the very process of thinking, collaborating, and asking questions. The DBEW AWARD aims to reveal the ‘power of this process’ to the world.”

 

Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), a leader in Korean design education, is partnering with the world-renowned industrial design association ADI (ASSOCIAZIONE DESING INDUSTRIALE, Director Andrea Cancellato) to host the international design award ‘DBEW AWARD 2026’.

 

Photo of Kookmin University-Shanghai University of Engineering Science MOU Signing (President Jeong Seung Ryul and President Lou Yongqi)

 

Kookmin University President Jeong Seung Ryul stated, “In the AI era, the role of education in fostering human thinking and collaboration becomes even more crucial,” adding, “We hope the DBEW AWARD will establish itself as a global platform where design educators and students worldwide can co-design the future.”

 

Unlike conventional design awards, the DBEW AWARD does not solely focus on finished products. Its defining feature is highlighting designs born from creative education and formally recognizing the collaborative process between educators and students as a creative achievement in itself. As the world's first design award evaluating and honoring the leadership and mentoring capabilities of creative educators, the DBEW AWARD is anticipated to set a new standard in design education.

 

President Jeong Seung Ryul listening to an explanation of 3D printing design education and research at ShanghaiTech University, China

 

True to its name, the award aims to discover and honor talents who pursue harmonious designs where Eastern and Western values coexist, based on outstanding creativity, as well as the professors who nurture these students. This places emphasis on fostering convergent design across diverse fields such as technology and design, humanities and design.

 

Judging will be conducted in two stages by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, ranging from globally recognized practitioners in design, architecture, and curation to leading scholars in education. Members include Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator of Design and Head of Research and Development at MoMA; John Thackara, a leading voice in sustainability discourse; Stefano Giovannoni, who established a design language bridging industrial design and marketing; Daniel Libeskind, known for architectural work transcending East-West boundaries; Cho Byoung soo, a leading Korean architect; and Lou Yongqi, President of Shanghai University of Engineering Science in China.

 

Architect Cho Byoung soo emphasized, “The core of the DBEW AWARD lies in its attitude of embracing fresh ideas through a collaborative model between students and professors. Its distinguishing feature from other awards is its focus on exploring how East and West can interact and present new visions, rather than dividing them dichotomously. Therefore, the process of breaking down disciplinary boundaries and fostering exchange is paramount.”

 

The message the DBEW AWARD conveys to the global design community is clear. Lou Yongqi, President of Shanghai University of Engineering Science and a jury member, stated, “While many design awards exist, those focused on collaborative creation between educators and students are extremely rare. By placing human collaboration and the value of education at the forefront in the age of artificial intelligence, the DBEW AWARD will point the way forward.”

 

The DBEW AWARD's judging criteria comprise six elements: originality, innovation, thematic relevance, aesthetic completeness, sustainability and social responsibility, and expressiveness. President Lou Yongqi emphasized, “How these six criteria are creatively integrated is paramount. This is deeply connected to the designer's experience, cultural context, and ‘tacit knowledge’ that cannot be easily quantified.”

 

The competition is open to all design-related undergraduate and graduate students, as well as emerging designers within two years of graduation. Participation requires teams composed of students and educators, with educators serving solely in a mentoring role. Submitted works must have been created within the last two years. The competition categories are Space/Architectural Design, Product/Fashion Design, and Visual/Communication/Service Design (including AI, Digital Media, Branding, Services, etc.).

 

Professor Choi Kyung Ran of Kookmin University (Director of Oriental Culture & Design Center), Chair of the 1st DBEW Award Steering Committee, describes the DBEW Award not as a simple, outcome-focused design competition, but as an international design competition that evaluates the entire process—where the creative educational journey leads to tangible results.

 

She added that this distinctiveness and the theme of ‘Sustainable Design Transcending East and West’ resonated with the importance of the era, leading to the active participation of global design opinion leaders as judges.

 

Submissions will be accepted until March 15, 2026, with final results announced on March 25, 2026. The total prize fund is $25,000. The award ceremony and forum will be held at the ADI Design Museum during Milan Design Week on April 21, 2026. This will be followed by an exhibition at the Seoul DDP during Seoul Design Week in October 2026. Detailed information about the DBEW AWARD 2026 can be found on the official website (dbewaward.com).

 

 

This content is translated from Korean to English using the AI translation service DeepL and may contain translation errors such as jargon/pronouns. If you find any, please send your feedback to kookminpr@kookmin.ac.kr so we can correct them.   View original article [click]