£17,400 Design Researchers in Residence

Organization: The Design Museum

Type: Fellowship

Location: United Kingdom

Deadline: September 6, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

The Design Museum in London runs this residency through Future Observatory, its national research programme for the green transition, delivered in partnership with UKRI's Arts and Humanities Research Council. Four designers and researchers at the start of their careers each receive a bursary of £11,400, a commissioning budget of £6,000 and a dedicated studio at the museum, working at least two days a week from November 2026 to June 2027. The 2026/27 theme is Grown, covering materials cultivated with living organisms such as algae, fungi, yeast and natural fibres, and the finished research goes on free public display at the museum. **What you get:** - A bursary of £11,400 to support career development and fund the resident's own practice, issued in agreed stages on appointment - A commissioning budget of £6,000 that goes directly towards producing the work shown at the end of the residency - A dedicated studio space at the Design Museum in Kensington, London - Mentorship, crits and skill-sharing sessions drawing on a network of external experts and established design researchers - Access to the Design Museum's learning, exhibitions, estates and curatorial teams - Work presented in a free public display at the Design Museum from June to September 2027 - An accompanying print catalogue promoting each resident's work - Production costs for the showcase and the presentation of the work are managed by the Design Museum **What you'll do:** - Develop an independent design research project responding to the 2026/27 theme, Grown - Commit at least two days per week across the residency period, working from the Design Museum one day a week - Move through concept development, fieldwork and production phases - Take part in networking, press interviews, events, online resources and the museum's public and learning programme - Supply information and visual content documenting the commission for press, marketing and online content - Possibly contribute to a material lab rethinking the Design Museum's collections gallery **Key dates:** - Applications opened Thursday 30 July 2026 at 10:00 - Applications closed Sunday 6 September 2026 at 11:59pm UK time - Shortlisted applicants interviewed in London or by video call, week commencing Monday 21 September 2026 - Selected researchers notified week commencing 28 September 2026 - Programme begins week commencing 12 October 2026 - Residency period November 2026 to June 2027 - Grown display open to the public June 2027 to September 2027 **More information:** - Full eligibility, entry requirements and timeline are in the Call for Entries PDF: https://futureobservatory.org/files/futureobservatory_drirgrown_2026_27.pdf - The Design Museum's own open call page for this cycle: https://designmuseum.org/learning-and-research/design-museum-research/future-observatory/design-researchers-in-residence/design-researchers-in-residence-202627-open-call - Application enquiries: grants_futureobservatory@designmuseum.org - The 2025/26 cohort's display, Mineral, ran 13 June to 20 September 2026: https://futureobservatory.org/programme/exhibitions/design-researchers-in-residence-mineral

The Design MuseumFellowship

£17,400 Design Researchers in Residence

This one has closed

Archived

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United Kingdom

Deadline

Archived

About this opportunity

What you get:

A bursary of £11,400 to support career development and fund the resident's own practice, issued in agreed stages on appointment
A commissioning budget of £6,000 that goes directly towards producing the work shown at the end of the residency
A dedicated studio space at the Design Museum in Kensington, London
Mentorship, crits and skill-sharing sessions drawing on a network of external experts and established design researchers
Access to the Design Museum's learning, exhibitions, estates and curatorial teams
Work presented in a free public display at the Design Museum from June to September 2027
An accompanying print catalogue promoting each resident's work
Production costs for the showcase and the presentation of the work are managed by the Design Museum

What you'll do:

Develop an independent design research project responding to the 2026/27 theme, Grown
Commit at least two days per week across the residency period, working from the Design Museum one day a week
Move through concept development, fieldwork and production phases
Take part in networking, press interviews, events, online resources and the museum's public and learning programme
Supply information and visual content documenting the commission for press, marketing and online content
Possibly contribute to a material lab rethinking the Design Museum's collections gallery

Key dates:

Applications opened Thursday 30 July 2026 at 10:00
Applications closed Sunday 6 September 2026 at 11:59pm UK time
Shortlisted applicants interviewed in London or by video call, week commencing Monday 21 September 2026
Selected researchers notified week commencing 28 September 2026
Programme begins week commencing 12 October 2026
Residency period November 2026 to June 2027
Grown display open to the public June 2027 to September 2027

More information:

Full eligibility, entry requirements and timeline are in the Call for Entries PDF: https://futureobservatory.org/files/futureobservatory_drirgrown_2026_27.pdf
The Design Museum's own open call page for this cycle: https://designmuseum.org/learning-and-research/design-museum-research/future-observatory/design-researchers-in-residence/design-researchers-in-residence-202627-open-call
Application enquiries: grants_futureobservatory@designmuseum.org
The 2025/26 cohort's display, Mineral, ran 13 June to 20 September 2026: https://futureobservatory.org/programme/exhibitions/design-researchers-in-residence-mineral

Who can apply

Applicants must live and work in the UK. The Design Museum and Future Observatory cannot sponsor visas or provide accommodation, so the residency is only open to researchers who already live in the UK.
Applicants must meet one of three academic criteria: completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline in the past 7 years, including the 2019/20 academic year or more recently; or completed a Masters in a relevant discipline in the past 5 years, including the 2021/22 academic year or more recently; or set up a design-related business within the last 5 years.
A formal design qualification is not required. Applicants who have not completed a degree may still be eligible if they have equivalent research experience outside of academic institutions.
At least one year of professional experience in design practice, which may be paid or voluntary.
Demonstrable experience in carrying out independent research, a clear interest in conducting independent research, and some understanding of design research ethics and methodologies.
Individuals only. The residency is not open to duos or research groups, owing to curatorial capacity and museum logistics.
Only one application per researcher, and only applications submitted using the provided form are accepted.
Applications must respond to the brief and feature new work, or the development of an existing project where the development in response to the brief is clear.
Selected researchers must commit at least two days per week during the residency period, working from the Design Museum one day per week.
Shortlisted applicants must be available for an online or London interview during the week commencing 21 September 2026.
No age limit is set. The Call for Entries was read in full and states no age criterion, so the null age range reflects an absent requirement rather than an unverified one.

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DEdesignmuseum.orgOfficialDEdesignmuseum.orgOfficialFUfutureobservatory.orgApplyFUfutureobservatory.orgApplyDEdesignmuseum.orgOfficialFOforms.cloud.microsoftOfficialDEdesigncouncil.org.ukOfficial

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