Seven Days Remaining: 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Application Guide and Deadline Reminder
Applications for the inaugural 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship will close in seven days, at 23:59 (UTC+8) on May 31, 2026.
Under the theme Design Beyond Boundaries: Convergence, Creativity, and Sustainable Innovation, the Fellowship supports original, interdisciplinary, and future-oriented design research. Selected recipients may receive up to 12 months of external research support and academic exchange opportunities.
For a full 12-month Fellowship, the standard support structure comprises a monthly stipend of USD 7,500 and up to USD 10,000 in additional support for research activities, academic travel, relocation, and related expenses. Total support may reach USD 100,000. The final amount, duration, and payment schedule will be specified in each recipient’s individual Fellowship Award Letter.
A formal appointment or acceptance document from the proposed host institution is not required at the application stage. Applicants should identify their proposed institution or research environment and describe the current status of relevant discussions, expressions of interest, or institutional arrangements.
Application materials 1–5 should be prepared in English and combined, in the following order, into one complete and searchable PDF file.
Include education, research experience, academic or professional appointments, publications, representative projects, awards, and other relevant achievements.
The proposal should be approximately 1,500–2,000 words, excluding references and image captions. It should normally address the research background and question; project objectives and scope; methods, technical approach, or practice pathway; relationship to the 2026 theme or research areas; work plan and milestones; anticipated outcomes and contributions; and the proposed host institution or research environment.
Submit a statement of no more than 750 words describing the applicant’s motivation, relevant experience, current research direction, and the Fellowship’s significance for their long-term academic or professional development. The statement should complement, rather than repeat, the curriculum vitae and research proposal.
Submit three representative publications, research projects, design works, prototypes, exhibitions, or other outcomes relevant to the proposed research. Briefly explain the significance of each and its relationship to the Fellowship proposal. Stable online links may be included in place of large original files.
Provide information about the proposed university, research institution, laboratory, academic platform, faculty host, or other research environment. Supporting materials may include an invitation, support letter, expression of interest, evidence of an application or approval process, or other written documentation of substantive communication.
Two letters should be provided by experts familiar with the applicant’s research or professional work. Each letter should include the referee’s name, institution, title, and contact information, and should normally be sent directly by the referee to the official Program email address.
Reference email subject: 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Reference – [Applicant Name]
Combine application materials 1–5 into one searchable PDF file of no more than 25 MB and name it: 2026_ADW_Future_Design_Fellowship_Application_[Applicant Name].pdf
Send the application to official@asia-design-week.com with the subject line: 2026 ADW Future Design Fellowship Application – [Applicant Name]
Reference letters should be sent separately by the referees and do not need to be included in the application PDF.
Application period: March 1–May 31, 2026
Deadline: May 31, 2026, 23:59 (UTC+8)
Complete application requirements: www.adwfellowship.com/2026-fellowship
Following the deadline, submissions that meet the basic eligibility and submission requirements will proceed to academic review. Further updates will be published on the official Program website.
Launched by the Asia Design Week Committee in 2026, the ADW Future Design Scholars Program supports design-led interdisciplinary research, international academic exchange, and the development of a global scholars network.
Its core annual funding initiative, the ADW Future Design Fellowship, provides external research support and academic exchange opportunities for independent research that demonstrates originality, interdisciplinary value, and a future-oriented perspective. Selected recipients become ADW Future Design Scholars.
Program website: www.adwfellowship.com
2026 Fellowship: www.adwfellowship.com/2026-fellowship
Annual theme and research areas: www.adwfellowship.com/research-areas
Contact: official@asia-design-week.com
Asia Design Week (ADW; Registration No. 76077932) is an international design organization and cultural exchange platform established and operated by the Asia Design Week Committee. Serving design communities across Asia and around the world, ADW advances design innovation, cross-cultural exchange, and sustainable social impact through thematic exhibitions, professional awards, research initiatives, publications, educational programs, and international partnerships.
ADW operates through its offices and regional collaborative networks across Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Seoul, connecting designers, scholars, educational institutions, and industry partners across Asia and beyond.
Asia Design Week website: www.asia-design-week.com
Kuala Lumpur Office: B4-02-4, Pantai Hillpark Phase 1, Jalan Pantai Murni 1, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hong Kong Office: Room 1, 5/F, Sang Woo Building, 227–228 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
(+60) 1116687852
official@asia-design-week.com
