Kookmin University said it will host an international design competition under a partnership with Italy’s Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI). The school has appointed Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design and director of research and development at Museum of Modern Art in New York, as a jury chair. She is widely recognized for expanding the definition of design by bridging Eastern and Western perspectives and integrating technology and human interaction into everyday life. Kookmin said the Design Beyond East and West (DBEW) Award 2026 aims to move beyond geographic and cultural divisions and to examine the universal values and evolving role of design in contemporary society. Judging will take place in two rounds by an international panel of experts in design, architecture and curation. In addition to Antonelli, jurors include John Thackara, known for his work on sustainability in design; Stefano Giovannoni, an industrial designer recognized for his market-driven design language; Korean architect Cho Byoung-soo; and Lou Yongqi, president of the Universit