SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - Kookmin University and the Association for Industrial Design (ADI) will co-host the Design Beyond East and West (DBEW) Award 2026, an international competition aimed at redefining the universal values of contemporary design. The university appointed Paola Antonelli, the senior curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), to serve as the jury chair for the event. The award seeks to move beyond geographical and cultural divisions to explore how design can integrate human interaction with technology in daily life.
The competition marks a significant collaboration between South Korean academia and the Italian design industry to lead global discourse on design education. It is specifically structured to recognize the symbiotic relationship between educators and students, shifting the focus from final products to the creative pedagogical process itself. By honoring both the student's work and the instructor's guidance, the organizers intend to set a new direction for international design leadership and sustainable social impact.
The award accepts entries across three main categories: space and architecture; product and fashion; and visual, communication, and service design, which includes artificial intelligence and digital media. To participate, undergraduate or graduate students, or recent graduates within two years of completion, must submit works created within the last two years alongside a faculty mentor. The judging panel includes international experts such as sustainable design theorist John Thackara, industrial designer Stefano Giovannoni, architect Cho Byoung-soo, and Lou Yongqi, president of Shanghai Tech University.
"The structure in which professors and students collaborate and submit entries together is a differentiated and meaningful attempt not seen in existing awards," Paola Antonelli said. She noted that the mutual process of teaching and learning between teachers and students maximizes educational achievement. Antonelli further described design as an "act of building bridges," rooted in specific cultural contexts yet connected through abstract principles.
Jeong Seung-ryul, president of Kookmin University, stated that the DBEW Award emphasizes the importance of human thinking and collaboration in the era of artificial intelligence. He noted that universities should function as spaces for questioning and debating the creative process rather than just teaching technical skills. President Jeong expressed his hope that the event would serve as a platform for educators and students worldwide to share common problem-solving approaches, reflecting the university's philosophy of building an educational ecosystem without boundaries.
The competition has already received hundreds of entries from more than 30 countries since January. Submissions remain open until March 15, 2026, with the final winners to be announced on March 25, 2026. A total prize pool of 25,000 dollars will be awarded during a ceremony and forum scheduled for April 21, 2026, at the ADI Design Museum during Milan Design Week.
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