ADW FUTURE DESIGN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
A long-term initiative of Asia Design Week supporting design-led interdisciplinary research, international academic exchange, and scholar development.
01 / 07
Independent research with design at the centre of inquiry, collaboration, and public knowledge.
- Duration
- Up to 12 months
- Support
- Up to USD 100,000
- Open to
- Scholars and research-led practitioners worldwide
- Annual theme
- Design Beyond Boundaries: Convergence, Creativity, and Sustainable Innovation
Future design as a field of inquiry and action.
Asia Design Week understands future design not as a visual style or a prediction of what comes next, but as an expanding field of inquiry and practice. Building on design’s foundations in making, form, and human experience, it engages with questions emerging from technological, ecological, cultural, and social change.
Future design brings different forms of knowledge into relation and gives emerging possibilities a form that can be examined, tested, and put into practice. The ADW Future Design Scholars Program advances this approach through sustained research support, academic exchange, and scholar development.
Why Asia Design Week launched the ProgramFrame
Make consequential questions visible and researchable.
Connect
Bring different forms of knowledge into relation.
Test
Use models, prototypes, and situated inquiry to open new possibilities.
How the Program works
The ADW Future Design Scholars Program is Asia Design Week’s long-term platform for design-led interdisciplinary research, international academic exchange, and scholar development. Its annual Fellowship supports selected research projects, and recipients join the Program as ADW Future Design Scholars.
ADW Future Design Scholars Program
A long-term platform supporting design-led interdisciplinary research, international academic exchange, and scholar development.
ADW Future Design Fellowship
An annual funding initiative providing up to 12 months of support for selected research projects.
ADW Future Design Scholar
A Fellowship recipient and member of the Program’s international scholarly community.
2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship
Selection Notifications in Progress
Independent support for design-led research.
The annual Fellowship supports scholars and research-led practitioners whose work connects design with emerging cultural, technological, and social questions.
- Duration
- Up to 12 months
- Support
- Up to USD 100,000
- Open to
- Scholars and research-led practitioners worldwide
2026 Fellowship Progress
- 01Open CallCompleted
- 02Academic ReviewCompleted
- 03Selection NotificationsIn progress
- 04Scholars ForumLate November 2026
Six areas of design-led inquiry
The areas offer an open framework for proposals under the 2026 annual theme.
01
Generative Design, Design Intelligence, and Human-AI Co-Creation
Investigates how generative systems and artificial intelligence are reshaping design reasoning, creative agency, authorship, and responsibility.
Explore this area
02
Emerging Interfaces, Digital Experience, and Creative Technology
Explores how emerging interfaces and creative technologies can produce meaningful, embodied, and publicly relevant forms of experience.
Explore this area
03
Future Design Studies, Education, and Knowledge Innovation
Reconsiders how design knowledge is produced, taught, evaluated, and shared under changing technological and social conditions.
Explore this area
04
Sustainable Production, Material Innovation, and Ecological Transitions
Connects material experimentation and production systems with ecological responsibility, cultural continuity, and long-term transition.
Explore this area
05
Public Design, Social Innovation, and Inclusive Futures
Uses design inquiry to address public services, community life, inclusion, institutional change, and shared futures.
Explore this area
06
Cross-Cultural Design and Cultural Creativity
Examines how design can translate, renew, and connect cultural knowledge without flattening difference or local specificity.
Explore this areaFrom a research question to public exchange
A project begins with an independent proposal and develops through a suitable research environment.
- Frame a design-led research question
- Identify an appropriate host environment
- Academic review and interview where needed
- Individual award coordination
- Up to 12 months of approved research
- Research translation and public exchange
Program and Review Committee
Eight confirmed members bring experience across design education, research, technology, culture, sustainability, and creative practice.
Pradyumna Vyas
President, World Design Organization (WDO)
Senior Advisor, Design Promotion and Innovation, Confederation of Indian Industry
India
Tom Northey
University for the Creative Arts
Associate Dean, School of Creative and Cultural Industries
United Kingdom
Jr Neville Songwe
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Chair, Industrial Design
United States
Yu, Eun Mi
Semyung University
Professor and Head, Department of Interior Design
South Korea
Anirban Chowdhury
Alliance University
Professor, School of Design and Creative Arts
India
Henry Duh
School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Associate Dean (Global and Industry Engagement), Professor
Hong Kong
Goh Yi Sheng
School of Architecture and Design, Sunway University
Associate Professor; Head of School and Head of Department
Malaysia
Akarapon Kritruenonwong
Associate Dean for Administration, College of Design, Rangsit University
President, Thai Graphic Designers Association (ThaiGa)
Thailand
The inaugural cohort will be introduced at the first Forum
Scholar profiles and research projects will follow the official presentation in Kuala Lumpur in late November 2026.
The inaugural cohort will be introduced at the first Forum
Scholar profiles and research projects will follow the official presentation in Kuala Lumpur in late November 2026.
Explore the ForumAn international context for design research
The Program is connected to Asia Design Week’s current network of design associations, academic societies, councils, and professional platforms.
The organisations shown are drawn from the current authorised ADW network. Specific Program contributions will be identified as individual relationships are confirmed.
Explore the networkThe 2026 cycle
Official calls, theme notes, review updates, and the first Forum preview.
Academic Review Concludes for the 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship
Following eligibility screening, expert assessment, interviews where necessary, and committee deliberation, the inaugural Fellowship has entered the selection notification stage.
Read update
Inaugural ADW Future Design Scholars Forum Planned for Late November 2026 in Kuala Lumpur
The inaugural Forum will bring together scholar research, academic publishing, design practice, linked exhibitions, and institutional exchange in Kuala Lumpur.
Read update
2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Enters Academic Review
The inaugural open call has closed and submissions meeting the basic requirements will proceed through eligibility screening, expert assessment, interviews where necessary, and committee deliberation.
Read update
Seven Days Remaining: 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Application Guide and Deadline Reminder
With seven days remaining, this guide brings together the Fellowship support structure, host information, application materials, file format, and submission instructions.
Read update
ADW Introduces the 2026 Fellowship Research Theme: Design Beyond Boundaries
Asia Design Week presents the intellectual framework, six research areas, and cross-cutting methods for the inaugural 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship.
Read update
2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Open Call
Asia Design Week announces the inaugural open call for a Fellowship supporting independent, design-led interdisciplinary research and international academic exchange.
Read update- Applications opened
- Applications closed
- Academic review
- Individual notifications
