1. Award Overview

Q1. What kind of award is the DBEW Award?
The DBEW Award is an award that highlights projects and outcomes developed within the context of design education. It is an international design competition that pursues harmonious outcomes rooted in the coexistence of Eastern and Western values for a sustainable future, and embodies a creative spirit that transcends cultural boundaries.

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2. Eligibility and Participation

Q2. Who can apply?
The DBEW Award is primarily open to students majoring in design-related fields. However, students from other majors who have completed design courses may also apply. Submissions are accepted for classes, projects, or graduation works conducted at universities, graduate schools, or professional educational institutions.

Q3. Do students and educators have to participate together?
Yes. The DBEW Award is based on joint participation by both students and educators.

Q4. Can students on a leave of absence apply?
Yes. Students on a leave of absence may submit their work as long as it was completed between January 1, 2024, and March 15, 2026 (the submission deadline).

Q5. Can graduates also apply?
Yes. Works completed between January 1, 2024, and March 15, 2026 (the submission deadline) are eligible for submission.

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3. Submission Format and Composition

Q6. Are only individual works eligible for submission? Are team projects allowed?
Both individual works and team projects are eligible for submission. However, in the case of team projects, all team members must be students who graduated within the past two years.

Q7. Can one person submit multiple works?
Yes. Multiple submissions by a single individual are allowed.

Q8. Can a work be submitted if multiple students and multiple supervising educators participated jointly?
Yes. Such submissions are allowed.

Q9. Can works created through collaboration among students from different majors be submitted?
Yes. They are eligible for submission.

Q10. Can all team projects created within the same course be submitted?
Yes. Multiple team projects created within the same course may be submitted at the same time. However, each team’s project must be submitted individually as a separate entry.

Q11. Can projects without physical production be submitted?
Yes. Projects that do not involve physical production are also eligible for submission.

Q12. Can personal works that are not course assignments be submitted?
The DBEW Award focuses on works produced within the context of design education. Therefore, works with a clear educational context such as those from courses, workshops, or educational programs are recommended.

Q13. Can graduation projects be submitted?
Yes. Graduation projects are considered outcomes of an educational process and are eligible for submission.

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4. Submission Categories

Q14. I’m not sure which category my work belongs to.
The DBEW Award has three broad categories that comprehensively cover the field of design:

Spatial & Architecture

Product & Fashion

Visual & Communication

Applicants are asked to select the category they feel best aligns with their work.
If a project does not clearly fit into a specific category, this will not restrict or disqualify the submission.

Q15. Can a single project be submitted to multiple categories?
No. Each project may only be submitted to one category.

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5. Evaluation Criteria

Q16. What criteria are used for evaluation?
The DBEW Award does not assess submissions solely based on the formal or aesthetic quality of the final outcome. Instead, the evaluation considers the initial problem awareness within the context of design education, how the issue was addressed through an educational approach, and how both students and educators experienced an expansion of thinking throughout the process.

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6. Duplicate Submissions and Award History

Q17. Can I submit a work that has already been submitted elsewhere?
Works that have previously been submitted to other competitions may be entered only if they have not received any awards. However, if a work submitted to the DBEW Award receives an award from another competition before the DBEW Award judging or announcement, the DBEW Award prize for that work will be revoked.

Q18. Can a work that has already won an award in another competition be submitted?
No. Works that have already received awards from other competitions are not eligible for submission.

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7. Submission Fees and Payment

Q19. How are submission fees applied for multiple submissions?
A separate submission fee must be paid for each work, based on the total number of submissions.

Q20. I’m having trouble with the payment.
Due to a temporary error in the payment system, some submissions may not be completed successfully. Once the issue has been resolved, applicants whose submissions were not completed will receive an individual notification email. Please complete the submission process again after receiving this notice.

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8. Copyright and Other Matters

Q21. Is it mandatory to provide educator information?
Yes. Information about the supervising educator must be provided at the time of submission. In the case of awarded works, the supervising educator’s information will be officially disclosed together with the student’s information.

Q22. Who holds the copyright of the submitted work?
The copyright of the submitted work belongs to the team that submitted it (students and educators). However, for the purposes of award operation, promotion, and archiving, the DBEW Award may use submitted works in online and offline promotional materials and archival records.
Details regarding such use are provided in the consent form submitted during the application process.

Q23. Can I make changes during the submission process?
Yes. Revisions are allowed after submission and may be made until March 15.

Q24. Where can I direct my inquiries?

Submission-related inquiries: apply@dbewaward.com
DBEW official contact: info@dbewaward.com