Design in Transition
DIA Marks 10 Years of Global Impact
As the Design Intelligence Award enters its 10th edition, it emerges not just as a competition—but as a strategic platform bridging cultures, industries, and the future of innovation.
In the global design landscape, few initiatives have grown as quickly—or with such intention—as the Design Intelligence Award (DIA). Founded in 2015 by the China Academy of Art, DIA has matured into one of the most generously funded and conceptually progressive design awards in the world.
With a ¥5 million RMB prize pool (around €650,000), a top award of ¥1 million RMB, and a growing network of design thinkers and doers from over 50 countries, DIA is more than a badge of honor. It is an engine for design-driven transformation in both industry and society.
A Framework for the Future
Unlike many awards that prize beauty over function, DIA takes a rigorous and layered approach to judging. Entries are evaluated across four pillars: Design Intelligence, Industrial Impact, Future Insight, and Social Influence.
The focus is clear: design is not just about form—it’s a tool for resilience, relevance, and reform. Whether applied to healthcare systems, AI interfaces, mobility, or public spaces, DIA celebrates those who shape what’s next.
New This Year: Academia Meets Industry
A standout innovation in the 2025 edition is the launch of the Innovation Incubation Group, a dedicated category for university teams.
It offers a rare opportunity for students and academic researchers to submit working prototypes, with a focus on transforming research into market-ready or socially useful solutions. A total of ¥600,000 RMB in support funding is allocated to this group—positioning it as a springboard for real-world application.
As the gap between academia and industry remains a global design challenge, this move signals a welcome shift toward integration. It also opens the door for European design schools to take part in a cross-continental exchange of methods, ideas, and impact.
Mentoring Matters
To mark its 10th anniversary, DIA introduces the Innovation Mentor Award—a tribute to those who shape ideas behind the scenes.
By recognizing educators, advisors, and facilitators who nurture intelligent design from concept to prototype, the award acknowledges that innovation is rarely a solo act. It’s an ecosystem, and mentorship is its lifeblood.
A Strategic Entry Point into Asia
What sets DIA apart from other awards is its ecosystem approach. Finalists don’t just win—they are exhibited, connected, and supported. Through partnerships with innovation parks, manufacturers, and cultural institutions, winning entries can lead to production, funding, or long-term collaboration.
Held in Hangzhou, a leading hub of China's creative economy, DIA links deeply into a network of design education, technology, and public-private partnership. In other words: a win here carries weight beyond the trophy shelf.
Why Europe Should Pay Attention
Europe has long been a wellspring of design heritage and critical thought. But in an era of planetary urgency and digital transformation, collaboration across borders—and beyond traditions—is essential.
DIA offers a rare combination of financial reward, intellectual rigor, and cross-cultural relevance. For studios, universities, or solo practitioners who see design as a lever for systemic change, it is one of the most relevant calls to action on the global calendar.