8th edition · 2026

The 2026 winners have been announced

Across very different scales and contexts, this year’s awarded works share one ambition: to make complex ideas visible and tangible — embedding education in the design itself, in materials, structures, public spaces, and the ways projects bring people together.

See the 2026 winners
  • GLP ALFALINK Sagamihara — the team collects its certificate at the Award Ceremony
  • Kide, Aalto University — a laureate with the certificate
  • Research and Education Hall for Circular Timber Construction — the team with its certificate
  • DA House — a laureate collects the certificate
  • Into the light, the update of the Christuskirche in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz — the team with its certificate
  • CORA, Cathedral of Robotic Artisans — a laureate with the certificate
  • A laureate receives the certificate from a member of the jury
  • MED UNI CAMPUS Graz — the certificate is handed over at the Award Ceremony
  • Warehouse Santos — the team collects its certificate at the Award Ceremony
  • BioBrew, coffee wastewater treatment — a laureate is congratulated on stage
  • GZM Metropolis Game — the student team at the microphone with its certificate
  • tree.data.arch, computationally supported wooden architecture — a laureate with the certificate
  • United Homes Giesing K12/14, a student residence in Munich — a laureate with the certificate
  • Kindergarten in Vilnius — the team with its certificate
  • Helsinki Central Library Oodi — a laureate with the certificate, to applause
  • Kalyon Karapınar 1350 MWp solar power plant, central control building — the certificate is handed over
  • Recording the laureates' interviews in front of the partners' wall

What We Are Looking For

We seek Architecture (1) that have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the world – at every scale, from the smallest shelter or exhibition installation to residential, public, and urban-scale solutions. In addition to realized projects, conceptual proposals are also accepted and will be evaluated separately.

The special category, Design for Impact (2), includes non-architectural designs, products, and concepts that create meaningful benefits for people, society, and the environment.

We welcome participation from small to large firms, alongside emerging designers and established practices from around the world. Experience shows that among the winners, both groups are consistently represented.

The submitted materials should preferably highlight the project's added value, articulating its significance beyond purely aesthetic qualities. Works must not be older than five years.

Awards BriefWinners Gallery

Outstanding International Jury

Our esteemed jury consists of world-renowned architects, designers, innovators and educators who are successfully expanding the boundaries of what is possible in their fields.

Prof. Toyo Ito

Prof. Toyo Ito

Toyo Ito & Associates

Architect, Founder of Toyo Ito & Associates, Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize

Prof. Barbara Holzer

Prof. Barbara Holzer

Holzer Kobler Architekturen

Architect, Lecturer, Co-Founder and Director of Holzer Kobler Architekturen

Prof. Rainer Mahlamäki

Prof. Rainer Mahlamäki

Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Partner & Co-Founder, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects

Doriana Mandrelli Fuksas

Doriana Mandrelli Fuksas

Studio Fuksas

Co-Founder, Studio Fuksas, Architect and Designer leading "Fuksas Design"

Prof. Carlo Ratti

Prof. Carlo Ratti

CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati

Architect, Founding Partner at CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, Director at MIT Senseable City Lab

Prof. Thomas Schroepfer

Prof. Thomas Schroepfer

SUTD

SUTD, Director Future Cities Laboratory Global Singapore-ETH Centre

Francine Houben

Francine Houben

Mecanoo

Creative Director, Founding Partner at Mecanoo

David Basulto

David Basulto

ArchDaily

Founder of Archdaily

Elke Delugan-Meissl

Elke Delugan-Meissl

Delugan Meissl Associated Architects

Founder and Partner at Delugan Meissl Associated Architects

Dang Qun

Dang Qun

MAD Architects

Co-Founder and Principal Partner of MAD

Oskar Zięta

Oskar Zięta

Zieta Studio

Architect, Artist and Process Designer, Founder and CEO of Zieta Studio

Martin Reuter

Martin Reuter

ingenhoven associates

Managing Director of ingenhoven associates

Dr Peter Kuczia

Dr Peter Kuczia

Kuczia Architects

Architect, Founder of Kuczia Architects, Initiator and Curator of the Design Educates Awards

Check Jury members from previous editions here

Architecture & Design with Added Value

““Many architecture and design awards recognize and promote the “beauty” of successful design. But in the Design Educates Awards, we wanted to go one step further. We do not just want to see aesthetically and technically pleasing designs—we want something that offers true added value. We want an additional benefit with long-term implications that considers the increasing complexity of our lives, both now and in the future.””
Dr. Peter Kuczia · Curator & Initiator of the DEAwards

Competition Yearbook

More about the idea of the awards in our post-competition books.

Awards BriefWinners Gallery

Winners Benefits

In each category:

(1) Architecture

(2) Design for Impact

following awards and recognition will be given:

  • Winner of the Year
  • Gold Prize
  • Silver Prize
  • Bronze Prize
  • Special Recognition
  • Honorable Mention
  • Finalist
  • Emerging Designer
  • Selection

In addition to the general evaluation, the student project with the highest score will be awarded the label: “Emerging Designer”.

Additionally:

  • 1) Winners packages with certificates and winning labels
  • 2) Inclusion in the yearbook (ISBN registered)
  • 3) Participation in the exhibition with confirmation by certificates
  • 4) Complimentary attendance at the Award Ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, with photo documentation
  • 5) Press kits
  • 6) Permanent listing in the Winners Gallery on www.designeducates.com
  • 7) Promotion through media sponsors and partners
  • Pismo Beach, USA, 2019
  • Asturias, Spain, 2019
  • Asturias, Spain, 2019
  • Warsaw, Poland, 2022
  • Warsaw, Poland, 2020
  • Warsaw, Poland, 2021

What to Submit

The submission consists of the following files:

1. Images of your design saved as JPG files in RGB mode with 200 dpi (up to 6 files), including

2. A single featured image saved as JPG files in RGB mode with 200 dpi, in horizontal format, 2000 x 1000 px (this image will be used as a header image while presenting your design to the judges and media),

3. Description of your design (max. 1500 characters) and your team (max. 250 characters).

All materials should be uploaded via the User Panel.

Among the Winners

Discover the outstanding talents and remarkable projects of the DEAwards

  • Istanbul Modern, Renzo Piano Building Workshop

    Istanbul Modern

    Renzo Piano Building Workshop · Gold Prize · 2025

  • Komera Leadership Center, BE_Design

    Komera Leadership Center

    BE_Design · Gold Prize · 2025

  • Kalyon Karapınar 1350 MWP SPP / Central Control Building, Bilgin Architects

    Kalyon Karapınar 1350 MWP SPP / Central Control Building

    Bilgin Architects · Silver Prize · 2025

  • ESPRIT, APOLLO Architects & Associates

    ESPRIT

    APOLLO Architects & Associates · Bronze Prize · 2025

  • Sluishuis, Barcode Architects

    Sluishuis

    Barcode Architects · Silver Prize · 2024

  • Gallery U/a, Satoshi Okada architects

    Gallery U/a

    Satoshi Okada architects · Winner of the Year · 2024

  • Konzertsaal Haus Marteau, PETER HAIMERL

    Konzertsaal Haus Marteau

    PETER HAIMERL · Gold Prize · 2024

  • Busajo Campus, StudioBenaim

    Busajo Campus

    StudioBenaim · Gold Prize · 2024

  • SuperHub Meerstad, De Zwarte Hond

    SuperHub Meerstad

    De Zwarte Hond · Special Recognition · 2023

  • Experimenta Heilbronn, Sauerbruch Hutton

    Experimenta Heilbronn

    Sauerbruch Hutton · Special Recognition · 2023

  • UAE Pavilion at EXPO 2020

    Santiago Calatrava LLC · Honorable Mention · 2022

  • The Shed

    Diller Scofidio + Renfro · Winner of the Year · 2020

  • Copenhill: Amager Bakke, BIG

    Copenhill: Amager Bakke

    BIG · Winner of the Year · 2020

  • Smog Free Project

    Design Studio Roosegaarde · Winner of the Year · 2019

Asked for a personal comment

Our objective is to promote innovative projects that have educational potential. We asked for a few personal words from renowned personalities in the design world who are associated with our competition about what it means to them:

  • “The role of design changes with the increasing complexity of the world that we live today. Design today is not only about aesthetics but it includes circularity, digital integration, health and the focus on talent in the future!” — handwritten by Prof. Ben van Berkel
  • “To design is not a tool to proliferate consumption. We should recall that the intended purpose of design is to enrich people's life. To educate is to fundamentally consider “for what” and “for whom”. To innovate is to break free from Modernism's dead end and to find a philosophy beyond it.” — handwritten by Prof. Toyo Itō
  • “To design is nourishing. To educate is rewarding. To innovate is cultivating.” — handwritten by Doris Kim Sung
  • “To design is to constantly turn all on it's head! To educate is to turn all heads constantly! To innovate is to head constantly towards design!” — handwritten by Hani Rashid
  • “To design is to access curiosity and imagination. To educate is to develop a future mindset. To innovate is to sow seeds of the future.” — handwritten by Prof. Masayo Ave
  • “To design is to listen to the world. To educate is to give and care. To innovate is not to take for granted.” — handwritten by David Basulto
  • “To design is to create new. To educate is to pass on knowledge. To innovate is progress.” — handwritten by Armin Pedevilla and Alexander Pedevilla
  • “To design is to innovate our life. To educate is to design the innovation. To innovate is to educate the design.” — handwritten by Jin Young Song
  • “To design is to express purpose. To innovate is to call “next”. To educate is to empower community.” — handwritten by Prof. Mark L Gardner
  • “To design is to solve problems. To educate is to exchange. To innovate is to create something new.” — handwritten by Binke Lenhardt
  • “To design is to analyse the political, social, topographical, climatic, functional context and then develop the right individual spacial and technical solution for this task at this location. To educate is to prepare our younger generations for a life in future societies, to enable them to appreciate the values of the social contract. To innovate is to find better solutions for current and future challenges humanity and our planet face.” — handwritten by Stefan Behnisch
  • “It means a chance to rewrite our ignorance and greed to build sanctuaries for human comfort and ego, even at the expense of all other organism. A chance to rebuild our future with what we have wasted and discarded. Return to real resources from Mother Nature's bossom, replenishable, sustainable.” — handwritten by Vinu Daniel
  • “To design is to think with your hands. To educate is to change visions. To innovate is to take responsibility.” — handwritten by Amandus Samsøe Sattler
Awards BriefWinners Gallery

Guidelines

Organizer

The host of the awards is Laka Foundation (KRS: 0000639902, EU VAT No. PL6381817438, Poland), a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization. Contact person: Damian Przybyła, damian@designeducates.com. The official website of the awards (www.designeducates.com) includes information about the theme, awards, jury, schedule, fees, submission requirements, and awards ceremony. Contact the organizer at hello@designeducates.com.

Eligibility

The awards are open to everyone. Participants can submit multiple designs in the same category, multiple designs in different categories, or a single design in more than one category, and in teams or individually. There is no limit as to the number of participants per team. Underage persons must apply through their legal guardians. Persons involved in the awards organization and jury (and their relatives and employees) cannot participate. Projects must be submitted in English. Projects submitted after the deadline for submissions will not be taken into account.

Fees and participation

Participation is equivalent to (1) acceptance of these guidelines, (2) declaring possession of copyright to the project, (3) consent to personal data processing for the purposes of the awards, and (4) consent to publish the entered project according to the license described below. The registration fees are non-refundable (except fees transferred after the deadline for registration). Registration fees support the development of the awards.

Awards

Laureates of the main prizes and honorable mentions will receive: certificates and winning labels, inclusion in the book “Design Educates”, invitation to participate in the Awards Ceremony and Exhibition in Warsaw Poland

Evaluation

On the awards' website, the organizer includes information about the jury members and the evaluation criteria. The decision of the jury will be final. The winners will be announced on the website and notified via email.

License

Participants retain their full moral rights to the submitted projects and grant a free license to the organizer in order to allow the promotion of the results. The organizer is obliged to include the authors' names each time it uses the license. The license has no time or territorial restrictions and can be used in the following fields: (1) public display, presentation, reproduction, and making the work available to the public; (2) making copies of the work (printing, reprographic, magnetic recording, digital techniques); and (3) using the work and its fragments for the awards', participants', and organizer's promotion. The organizer cannot modify the submitted projects in any way without their authors' consent.

Personal information

Participants' personal information is processed according to the Privacy Policy. While publishing the results, the organizer will include the participants' personal information: names, countries, and (if provided) information about their schools, companies, and professions. Any other personal information about participants will not be made available to any third party.

Strategic Partners

Media Partners