A' Design Awards open 2026 entries for advanced design and design research

A' Design Award & Competition has opened submissions for its 2026 Advanced Design and Design Research Awards, a global contest focused on research-driven and experimental design work. Entries are due Sept. 30, 2026, with winners set to be announced May 1, 2027.

Why it matters: - The awards aim to spotlight design research that produces new methods, knowledge and practical approaches to complex problems. - Winners can gain international exposure, promotional support and recognition across design and research communities. - The competition is open to a wide range of professionals, studios, researchers and organizations worldwide.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition opened entries for the A' International Advanced Design and Design Research Awards 2026. - The competition is accepting work developed within the last 10 years. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Results will be announced May 1, 2027. - More information is available in the category details and on the entry page.

The details: - Eligible submissions include design research studies, advanced design studies and experimental design work. - Accepted formats include ethnographies, surveys, interviews, observational studies, case studies, prototypes, literature reviews and design experiments. - The competition uses a two-phase process. - Entrants begin with a complimentary preliminary evaluation. - Projects that pass preliminaries can proceed to nomination. - A nominal fee applies for nomination. - Entries are evaluated anonymously by an international jury of more than 300 experts. - The jury includes design researchers, academics, industrial designers, engineers, innovation professionals, UX specialists and design scholars. - Evaluation criteria include research rigor, originality, methodology, relevance, experimentation, insight generation and contribution to design excellence. - Professional-edition laureates receive the A' Design Prize. - The prize includes a design excellence certificate, lifetime use of the winner logo, a yearbook of best designs, exhibitions in Italy, an award trophy and an invitation to the gala night. - The prize package also includes translation of awarded works into foreign languages, entry to Prime Clubs, and inclusion in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, Design Research Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Winners also receive an exclusive interview for Designer Interviews and inclusion in press kits. - The press kit includes the interview, award-announcement release, design images, designer photographs, logos and additional high-resolution materials. - Press kits will be distributed to thousands of accredited press members. - Dozens of press partners have already agreed to publish selected winning projects. - The press kit preparation and distribution service is free for laureates. - The A' Design Prize is also free for laureates. - Past winners are listed on the winners page.

Between the lines: - The awards position research-led design as a measurable discipline, not just a creative practice. - Anonymous judging and a large expert jury are intended to reinforce credibility in a field where methodology matters. - The free publicity package suggests the competition is built to help winners convert recognition into visibility.

What's next: - Designers and research teams can submit entries now through the competition portal. - Shortlisted projects will move from preliminary evaluation to formal nomination. - Winners will be named in May 2027 and then receive the prize package and publicity support.

The bottom line: - A' Design Award is using its 2026 research-focused competition to reward experimental design work and give winners a built-in promotion platform.