Kookmin University will host an international design competition in partnership with Italy’s Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI). The event has appointed Paola Antonelli as jury chair to explore universal values in design beyond East-West divides. Submissions close on March 15, with the awards ceremony set for April 21 in Milan.
Kookmin University is partnering with Italy’s Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI) to host the Design Beyond East and West (DBEW) Award 2026. The competition seeks to transcend geographic and cultural boundaries, examining the universal values and evolving role of design in contemporary society.
Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, has been appointed as jury chair. She is recognized for broadening design’s definition by linking Eastern and Western views and incorporating technology into daily human interactions. Other jurors include John Thackara, known for sustainability in design; industrial designer Stefano Giovannoni; Korean architect Cho Byoung-soo; and Lou Yongqi, president of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.
Antonelli described design as “an act of bridging,” noting that while rooted in cultural contexts, it connects disparate worlds through simple principles. She highlighted the award’s collaborative structure between professors and students as a departure from traditional competitions, emphasizing reciprocal teaching and learning. Unlike conventional awards focused on final products, this one recognizes projects developed in creative educational processes.
Since submissions opened in January, hundreds of entries have come from more than 30 countries. Evaluations will consider originality, innovation, thematic relevance, aesthetic quality, sustainability, social responsibility, and clarity of expression. The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 21 during Milan Design Week at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, Italy.
Kookmin University President Chung Seung-ryul stated that the DBEW Award underscores cultivating critical thinking and collaboration in the artificial intelligence era. He added that universities must foster spaces for questioning, discussion, and collective creation, providing a platform for educators and students worldwide to share challenges across disciplines, borders, and cultures. The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in design fields, as well as emerging designers who graduated less than two years ago. Entries must be joint submissions by students and faculty mentors, with projects completed within the past two years. Total prize money is $25,000. Details are available on the award’s official website and Instagram account.
