NYADW 2026 — Traces of Force
Open
Call
Submission Deadline — July 24
New York Asian Design Week invites designers, artists, architects, makers, and creative practitioners to submit work for its 2026 exhibition, Traces of Force.
Edition
Physical
Venue
Gallery 456
Host
Lighthouse Global Foundation
This year's Physical edition explores how force, matter, body, environment, memory, and culture shape tangible design. Selected works will be exhibited at Gallery 456, the main venue of NYADW 2026.
Who Can Apply
Designers, Artists, Architects & Makers
- —Architects
- —Spatial designers
- —Product designers
- —Furniture designers
- —Industrial designers
- —Fashion / textile designers
- —Graphic designers
- —Artists
- —Installation artists
- —Multimedia artists
- —Makers & craft-based practitioners
- —Interdisciplinary creative teams
Open to Asian, Asian-diasporic, and Asian-identifying designers and artists, as well as creative practitioners whose work meaningfully engages with Asian culture, identity, material practice, or contemporary Asian experience.
What We're Looking For
Work That Carries a Physical Dimension
- —Physical objects
- —Spatial installations
- —Architecture / interior / landscape
- —Furniture & product design
- —Fashion, textile & wearable works
- —Graphic / visual design with physical output
- —Sculptural works
- —Prototypes & models
- —Material experiments
- —Research-based design projects
- —Documentation of completed work
- —Multimedia works, physically grounded
Curatorial Fit
Submissions Should Respond to One or More of the Following
Exhibition Venue
Gallery 456
Selected works from the open call will be exhibited at Gallery 456, operated by the Chinese American Arts Council, as the main venue of New York Asian Design Week 2026.
How to Apply
Submission Guidelines
Email the following materials to support@nyadw.org with the subject "2026, artist name" (i.e. 2026, Claude Monet).
01
Applicant name / team name
02
Project title
03
Project description, 250–500 words
04
3–5 project images / video link, each no larger than 15MB
05
Medium, dimensions & installation requirements
06
Artist bio & CV / resume
07
Optional — social media / website
08
Any special equipment needs
Important Dates
Open Call Timeline
Open Call Launch
June 22
Submission Deadline
July 24
Artist Notification
July 27
Press Conference
August 5
Exhibition Opening
August 7
Public Talks & Workshops
August 15
Closing Event
August 21
Application Fee
There is no application fee.
Selection Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed based on conceptual strength, relevance to the theme, quality of execution, clarity of presentation, feasibility, and the work's ability to expand public understanding of contemporary Asian design.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit more than one project?
Yes. Applicants may submit multiple projects; each submission should be entered separately.
Can teams apply?
Yes. Interdisciplinary creative teams are welcome to apply under a single team submission.
Do I need to live in New York?
No. Applicants do not need to be based in New York to apply.
Does the work need to be new?
No. Existing, in-progress, and proposed works are all eligible for submission.
Can I submit a proposal for a work not yet completed?
Yes. Proposals for in-progress or planned works are accepted alongside completed projects.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no application fee to submit to the open call.
Are international applicants eligible?
Yes. International applicants are eligible to apply.
Will selected artists receive support?
Details on artist support will be shared directly with selected applicants upon notification.
What kinds of works are accepted?
Physical objects, spatial installations, architecture and interior projects, furniture and product design, fashion and textile works, sculptural works, prototypes, models, material experiments, research-based design, and documentation of completed work.
What does "Physical edition" mean?
NYADW unfolds through a two-year dialogue between Physical and Digital design. The 2026 edition is the Physical edition, focused on tangible spaces, objects, materials, and embodied experience.
What is the exhibition venue?
Selected works will be exhibited at Gallery 456, operated by the Chinese American Arts Council, the main venue of NYADW 2026.
How should my work relate to Asian design?
We're looking for work that engages Asian design beyond motif or fixed aesthetic — through material decision, adaptation, cultural memory, or what gets carried forward under pressure.
Ready to Submit?
Submissions close July 24. Selected works will be exhibited at Gallery 456 as the main venue of NYADW 2026.