Global design competition opens submissions for 2026 awards

The A’ Design Award & Competition has opened its annual call for submissions, offering designers worldwide a chance to showcase work across 196 disciplines. Organized annually, the competition spans categories like industrial design, architecture, product design, communication design, service design, and fashion design. Winners receive recognition through an online exhibition, inclusion in a yearbook, and global publicity via magazine and blog promotions.

One key feature is the competition’s free profile system for all participants. Whether a submission wins or not, designers gain access to an online portfolio space where they can upload additional work, write biographies, and exhibit new projects. The platform also provides feedback from an international jury panel composed of academics, design professionals, and press members.

Winners benefit from multiple perks, including an awards trophy, two invitations to a gala event, and the option to list their design for sale. Past winners have included projects like the Arc One Lounge Chair by Deniz Ozdemir and the Ascending Ground Community Library by Hao Zhong. The competition’s reach extends globally, with winning works translated into major languages to connect designers, buyers, and enthusiasts worldwide.

The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2026, with results announced on May 1, 2027. The competition’s structure ensures visibility for all participants, not just winners, by maintaining permanent online profiles and exhibition listings.

The jury’s feedback, along with a score sheet, helps participants refine their projects. Previous entries have ranged from modular furniture collections to cultural facility revitalizations, demonstrating the competition’s broad scope.

Notable Past Winning Projects Across Disciplines

The A’ Design Award has previously recognized a range of projects spanning architecture, furniture design, and cultural installations. Among them is the Arc One Lounge Chair, a seating concept by Deniz Ozdemir, alongside the Aero Grove Community Cultural Center, an architectural project by Xinyun Li. Other standout entries include the Transition Exhibition, a curated display by Shuhei Matsuyama, and the Camarade Modular Furniture Collection, developed by Antifer.

Additional winning works feature the UNESCO Ancient Theatre Revitalization Cultural Facility, a restoration effort by Lyt X Studio, and the Ikebana Floor Lamp, a lighting design by Alexey Danilin. The competition has also highlighted larger-scale projects like the Wuhan Senbo Resort Hotel, designed by Wjd Design, and the V6 Lifestyle Art Emporium Furniture Showroom, created by Xiang Li. Smaller-scale but impactful entries include the Incense Bamboo Art Installation by Lin Ching Ke.