Organizer Information
Design Trust is a grant-making initiative that supports designers, curators, collectives, and nonprofit organizations working across design, creative research, and cultural practice. Its funding promotes innovative projects that contribute to the social, cultural, educational, economic, and environmental development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The initiative encourages critical inquiry, experimentation, and international exchange, supporting projects that expand knowledge and demonstrate the value of design in the public realm.
Title & Description
Design Trust Seed, Feature & Impact Grants
The Design Trust Seed, Feature & Impact Grants provide financial support for research, exhibitions, creative installations, prototypes, publications, educational programs, and other design-related initiatives connected to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
The funding program comprises three grant categories. The Seed Grant supports individuals developing early-stage ideas, research projects, or prototypes with meaningful community impact. The Feature Grant supports ambitious, cross-disciplinary projects, including international collaborations between Hong Kong- or China-based collectives and established cultural institutions. The Impact Grant enables former Design Trust grant recipients, fellows, and mentees with demonstrated track records to expand the public impact of their research through community-based initiatives and innovative engagement models.
The program aims to strengthen regional design research, encourage international collaboration, and introduce thought-provoking projects and cultural activities to the Greater Bay Area.
Categories
- Design and Creative Research
- Visual Art and Media Art
- Graphic and Communication Design
- Architecture and the Built Environment
- Wearable and Textile Design
- Exhibition and Installation
- Cultural and Educational Programs
- Publications and Documentary Projects
- Interdisciplinary and Community-Based Projects
Eligibility
Applications are accepted from individuals, collectives, and certified nonprofit organizations based in the Greater Bay Area or seeking funding for projects relevant to the region. International applicants are encouraged to apply when their proposals address Hong Kong or Greater Bay Area contexts.
Seed Grants are particularly suitable for emerging designers, young scholars, and individuals developing research or prototypes. Feature Grants support cross-disciplinary initiatives and international cultural collaborations. Impact Grants are intended for former Design Trust grant recipients, fellows, and mentees with an established record of work and a demonstrated commitment to advancing previously supported research.
Applicants may submit up to two applications per calendar year and may have only one active Design Trust-funded project at a time. Individuals and collectives may receive a maximum of two Feature Grants or three Seed Grants. Applicants who have reached these limits may be eligible to apply for an Impact Grant, subject to the program's requirements.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Seed Grant: HKD 50,000 per awarded project.
- Feature Grant: Up to HKD 300,000 annually for selected projects, subject to special consideration.
- Impact Grant: Funding considered on a case-by-case basis.
Design Trust may provide full or partial funding, depending on the project and its budget. Supported activities can include research, design development, production, exhibitions, educational programs, and public engagement initiatives. Funding can also support appropriate professional fees for designers and academics.
Successful applicants gain financial resources to develop their projects, opportunities to present research internationally, and the potential to contribute to regional and international design discourse. Travel and living expenses should generally be covered through other funding sources.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadlines: April 20 and October 20 annually.
- Submission cutoff: Midnight Hong Kong time on the closing date.
- Notification: Within 8–10 weeks of application submission.
- Recommended submission timing: Three to six months before the project's planned commencement.
- Seed Grant project duration: Maximum 12 months.
- Feature Grant project duration: Maximum 24 months.
Late applications are not considered and must be resubmitted during a subsequent funding cycle. Impact Grant applications are assessed individually.
Location
Hong Kong
Additional Details
Successful applicants must sign a grant agreement and accept responsibility for implementing the approved project. Longer-term projects and projects receiving more than HKD 100,000 may require a mid-term review. Completion reports and supporting materials must be submitted within two months of project completion.
Book projects should be published in English or bilingually in English and Chinese and demonstrate broad regional or international relevance. Film, television, and documentary projects must also demonstrate significant impact and include English and Chinese subtitles. Research forming part of assessable academic coursework is unlikely to receive funding.