dbew award debuts in milan with a new model for design education

DBEW Award ceremony and forum premier in Milan

Launched during Milan Design Week 2026 at the ADI Design Museum, the DBEW (Design Beyond East and West) Award introduces a new approach to recognizing creative talent across disciplines and cultures. Bringing educators and students into the spotlight together, the initiative explores how design education can evolve in response to artificial intelligence, global mobility, and increasingly collaborative modes of practice.

Co-organized by Kookmin University and the ADI Design Museum, the award seeks to identify emerging multidisciplinary talent while fostering educational frameworks that support sustainable and future-oriented design practices. Distinguishing itself from conventional competitions, the DBEW Award recognizes educators and students together, celebrating the collaborative process behind innovation rather than individual achievement alone.

Luciano Galimberti, President of ADI, delivered an opening address | all images courtesy of DBEW Award 2026

Global dbew award jury selects winners from over 800 entries

The ceremony also served as a platform for dialogue across disciplines and cultures. A distinguished jury including Paola Antonelli, Lou Yongqi, John Thackara, and Stefano Giovannoni joined participants in discussions on the evolving role of design education. Congratulatory remarks from Lorenzo Imbesi, President of Cumulus, and Emilia Gatto, Italy’s Ambassador to South Korea, underscored the award’s commitment to international exchange and cooperation.

By the submission deadline in March, the competition had attracted more than 800 entries from 44 countries. Ten winning teams and thirty Honorable Mention recipients were recognized during the ceremony. Winners received trophies crafted from reclaimed Korean pine recovered from wildfire-damaged areas, transforming discarded material into a symbol of renewal and resilience.

the trophies, repurposed from charred Korean pine, embodied design’s capacity to breathe new life into remnants of nature

award panels as a practical compass for ai era

Following the awards presentation, the event shifted into an open forum format. Paola Antonelli led a conversation with students and attendees on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. Discussions centered on the importance of critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and educational models that bridge academic research with industrial production and manufacturing knowledge.

For Kookmin University President Jeong Seung Ryul, the award reflects the realities of contemporary design practice, where ideas and talent move fluidly across borders. He pointed to the success of a Chinese student studying within a British educational framework as an example of how global mobility is reshaping creative collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Organizers attribute the award’s strong international participation to three key factors: the relevance of its theme, Design Beyond East and West, which encourages convergent thinking for the AI era; its distinctive model of jointly recognizing students and educators; and its role as a networking platform connecting emerging talent with industry professionals and academic leaders.

design experts engaged in a spirited dialogue with students regarding the future of design | image by Seoung Joo Yoo

adi design museum acts as co-organizer and venue in milan

The initiative builds on more than two decades of research conducted by Oriental Design Cultural Design (ODCD), founded by steering committee chair Choi Kyung Ran. Her long-term investigation into Asian design values and cultural perspectives laid the groundwork for a platform that seeks to connect diverse design traditions while addressing global challenges.

Throughout the event, participants emphasized the significance of recognizing collective achievement. Andrea Cancellato, Director of the ADI Design Museum, described the partnership with Kookmin University as a unique model within the international design landscape, highlighting the award’s commitment to honoring both educators and students. Paola Antonelli similarly praised the initiative for bringing greater visibility to the often-overlooked contribution of educators within the creative process.

Bronze Winner: ‘ALUA’ by Camilla Vicario, Davide Benetton, Camilla Costato, Alice D’Andrea, Sofia Splendore, and Francesco Zanchetta (Italy) / Educator: Francesco E. Guida

kookmin university founds international platform for design

Among the winners were students from Politecnico di Milano, whose bronze-winning project ALUA was developed with direct industrial application in mind. The silver-winning project CutisRANA – Amphibious Workwear for Future Wetland Life, created by students from L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, was presented alongside Frédéric Degouzon, Director of International Strategy & Development. Reflecting on the project, Degouzon highlighted the value of East-West exchange in generating innovative design solutions, while team member Ni Xinghao noted how studying in both China and France enabled a broader perspective on local and regional challenges.

With its first edition complete, the DBEW Award is already preparing for the future. Building on the momentum of its Milan debut, the platform aims to further strengthen connections across the global design community, with details for the next call for entries to be announced through its official channels.

Silver Winner: ‘CutisRANA Amphibious Workwear for Future Wetland Life’ by Ni Xinghao, Rongwei Yan, Du Wang (China) / Educator: Jaime Bautista, Simon Lozac’h, Olivier Heinry, Zaki Jawhari