Kookmin University launches international design award emphasizing educator-student collaboration

Kookmin University President Jeong Seung-ryul, left, and Shanghai University of Engineering Science President Lou Yongqi pose after signing a memorandum of understanding. Courtesy of Kookmin University

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Kookmin University announced the launch of the "DBEW AWARD 2026," an international design competition organized in partnership with the Association for Industrial Design (ADI). The award aims to highlight the educational process and collaboration between students and instructors rather than focusing solely on finished design products.

The award distinguishes itself from traditional design competitions by evaluating the mentorship and cooperative efforts that lead to creative outcomes. It is the first global design award to explicitly assess and recognize the leadership and mentoring capabilities of educators alongside student work. The initiative seeks to establish a new standard in design education by fostering convergence across technology, humanities, and design.

"In the era of artificial intelligence, the role of education in fostering human thinking and collaboration becomes increasingly important," said Jeong Seung-ryul, president of Kookmin University. "We hope the DBEW AWARD will establish itself as a global platform where design educators and students from around the world can design the future together."

The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as new designers who have graduated within the last two years. Participants must form a team consisting of a student (or students) and an educator acting as a mentor. Submitted works must have been created within the past two years. Categories include Space and Architectural Design, Product and Fashion Design, and Visual, Communication, and Service Design, which encompasses AI, digital media, and branding.

A multidisciplinary panel of jurors from the fields of design, architecture, and curation will evaluate entries. The jury includes Paola Antonelli, senior curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); John Thackara, a leading voice in sustainability; industrial designer Stefano Giovannoni; architect Daniel Libeskind; Korean architect Cho Byoung-soo; and Lou Yongqi, president of Shanghai University of Engineering Science.

"The core of the DBEW AWARD is the attitude of embracing fresh ideas through a cooperation model between students and professors," said juror Cho Byoung-soo. "The point of contemplating how to interact and present new visions, rather than dividing East and West dichotomously, differentiates this from other awards."

Evaluation criteria cover six areas: originality, innovation, thematic relevance, aesthetic completeness, sustainability and social responsibility, and expressiveness.

"While many design awards exist, prizes focusing on the joint creation of educators and students are very rare," said Lou Yongqi. "By bringing the value of human collaboration and education to the forefront in the age of artificial intelligence, the DBEW AWARD will present a new direction."

Choi Kyung-ran, a professor at Kookmin University and the chairperson of the DBEW Award steering committee, explained that the award evaluates the entire sequence where the creative process of education leads to an outcome. She noted that global opinion leaders joined the jury because they aligned with the importance of the award's theme, which seeks sustainable design transcending East and West.

The submission deadline is March 15, 2026, with final results scheduled for announcement on March 25. The total prize pool is 25,000 US dollars. An awards ceremony and forum will take place on April 21, 2026, at the ADI Design Museum in Milan during Milan Design Week. A subsequent exhibition is planned for October 2026 at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) during Seoul Design Week.
박세진 Reporter swatchsjp@ajunews.com

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