Recognising Design That Shapes Tomorrow
The Design Futures Award recognises bold, thoughtful and impactful design work by graduating students who look beyond the present to imagine what comes next. Through this award, Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design honours projects that address complex challenges with creativity, responsibility and foresight.
Formerly known as the Sustainability Design Award, the Award has evolved to better reflect the expanding scope of contemporary design practice. While sustainability remains central, today’s designers must also respond to social systems, emerging technologies and cultural shifts. The Design Futures Award acknowledges this broader responsibility — recognising work that engages real-world issues and proposes meaningful ways forward.
As part of The Design Show, the Award celebrates projects that move beyond aesthetics. It recognises design that is purposeful, culturally aware and socially responsive.
The Design Futures Award champions:
- Forward-thinking design that anticipates emerging challenges and opportunities.
- Human-centred impact that improves lives and strengthens communities.
- Sustainable and responsible practice grounded in environmental and ethical awareness.
- Systems-level thinking that connects design to broader social, cultural and ecological contexts.
The Award recognises work where ideas extend beyond execution to influence, inspire and initiate change.
Design Futures at Design Show 2026
Presented within Temasek Polytechnic’s annual showcase of graduating talent, the Design Futures Award spotlights projects that demonstrate conviction, rigour and responsibility. It reflects the School’s commitment to nurturing designers who think long-term, act with intention and shape the future through meaningful design.
Award Categories
Designs that enhance human well-being and prioritise social responsibility.
Designs that promote sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.
Designs that leverage emerging technologies to deliver future-ready solutions.
About the Organiser
The BeyonDesign Centre (BDC) is dedicated to exploring innovative ways to minimise the negative impact of human activity on the environment. It adopts a systematic, transdisciplinary approach, engaging multiple stakeholders from the outset to co-create holistic solutions.
By fostering collaboration across disciplines and perspectives, BDC enables the development of practical, meaningful and scalable sustainable solutions.