Kookmin University to host design contest with Italian institute

A promotional poster for the Design Beyond East and West Award 2026 / Courtesy of Kookmin University

Kookmin University said it will host an international design competition under a partnership with Italy’s Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI).

The school has appointed Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design and director of research and development at Museum of Modern Art in New York, as a jury chair. She is widely recognized for expanding the definition of design by bridging Eastern and Western perspectives and integrating technology and human interaction into everyday life.

Kookmin said the Design Beyond East and West (DBEW) Award 2026 aims to move beyond geographic and cultural divisions and to examine the universal values and evolving role of design in contemporary society.

Judging will take place in two rounds by an international panel of experts in design, architecture and curation. In addition to Antonelli, jurors include John Thackara, known for his work on sustainability in design; Stefano Giovannoni, an industrial designer recognized for his market-driven design language; Korean architect Cho Byoung-soo; and Lou Yongqi, president of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

Institutional partners include Cumulus Association, a global association of art and design education institutions; the Korea Federation of Design Associations; and media partners such as Designboom, Domus and Design House.

Antonelli has described design as “an act of bridging,” emphasizing that while design is rooted in specific cultural contexts, it connects disparate worlds through simple and abstract principles.

She said the award’s structure — requiring professors and students to collaborate on submissions — represents a meaningful departure from conventional competitions and highlights the reciprocal nature of teaching and learning.

Unlike traditional awards that focus solely on final outcomes, the DBEW Award 2026 will recognize projects developed within creative educational processes.

Organizers said the competition seeks to identify emerging designers who demonstrate sustainability, cultural balance and diversity, an experimental spirit and global leadership while formally acknowledging the role of educators as mentors.

Since opening submissions in January, the competition has drawn hundreds of entries from more than 30 countries, the university said.

Entries will be evaluated based on originality, innovation, thematic relevance, aesthetic quality, sustainability and 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 said the DBEW Award underscores the importance of cultivating critical thinking and collaboration in the age of artificial intelligence.

He said universities must go beyond technical training to foster spaces for questioning, discussion and collective creation, adding that the award aims to provide a platform where educators and students worldwide can share common challenges across disciplines, borders and cultures.

The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in design-related fields, as well as emerging designers who graduated less than two years ago. Submissions must be joint entries by students and faculty mentors, and projects must have been completed within the past two years.

The submission deadline is March 15, with final results to be announced March 25.

Total prize money amounts to $25,000. Further details are available on the award’s official website and Instagram account.