What is Asian Emerging Creators 2026?

1. About Asian Emerging Creators 2026

Asian Emerging Creators 2026 is a curated recognition programme by Merci × Sky Design Awards, created for individuals across Asia whose creative practice is growing, evolving, and shaping what comes next.

We created this programme because we believe the most important creative voices are not always the loudest ones. Some are still building. Some are working quietly, with deep intention. Some are redefining what their discipline can be and the world hasn't caught up yet.

This is for you.

Selected creators receive editorial coverage, exhibition opportunities, commissioned photography, and international visibility, not as a one-time prize, but as the beginning of a longer conversation about where your practice is heading.

2. Eligibility

Self-Application You apply directly, submitting your own portfolio, statement, and biography.

Nomination by Another Person A mentor, peer, collaborator, or anyone who believes in a creator's work may submit a nomination on their behalf. The nominator is responsible for gathering and submitting all required materials. The entry fee may be paid by either the nominator or the creator.

We welcome creators of all ages and backgrounds, what matters is the depth and direction of your practice, not your career stage or formal credentials.

To apply, you should:

• Be the sole author or primary creative voice behind the work you submit

• Be based in Asia, or identify Asia as the core context of your creative practice

• Work within a creative or cultural discipline

• Be able to present work completed within the last 5–7 years

A few things to know:

• No age restrictions! Emerging is about influence, not age!

• No academic qualifications required

• Independent and studio-based practitioners are both welcome! Though please note that studios or agencies may not apply on behalf of individual creators; each person must apply for themselves

3. Eligible Disciplines

The programme is intentionally cross-disciplinary. Eligible fields include, but are not limited to:

• Architecture

• Interior & Spatial Design

• Product & Industrial Design

• Furniture Design

• Fashion & Textile

• Photography

• Filmmaking & Moving Image

• Visual Arts

• Craft & Material-based Practice

• Curatorial, Research-based or Hybrid Creative Practices

Creators whose work spans multiple disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply.

4. What We Are Looking For

We are looking for creators who know why they make what they make.

Creators whose work carries a clear and authentic voice. Whose practice is rooted in cultural awareness and genuine curiosity. Who are not chasing trends but building something with depth, intention, and the potential to shape creative discourse in Asia for years to come.

Both built work and conceptual, research-based, or narrative practices are welcome. What matters most is not the volume of your output. It is the clarity of your vision and the sincerity of your growth.

If that sounds like you, we warmly invite you to apply.

The selection focuses on creators who demonstrate:

• A clear and authentic creative voice

• Cultural awareness and contextual sensitivity

• Original thinking beyond trends

• Depth of process, not just visual outcomes

• Potential to shape future creative discourse

Both built work and conceptual, research-based, or narrative practices are welcome.

5. Recognition & Exposure

Selected creators will receive:

• Official recognition as an Asian Emerging Creator 2026

• Editorial feature on Merci Magazine platforms

• Inclusion in the Asian Emerging Creators 2026 digital showcase

• Opportunity for exhibition participation, film documentation, or panel dialogue (subject to curatorial selection)

• Certificate of Recognition

• International exposure to industry professionals, curators, leading brands, and cultural institutions

This programme serves as a cultural platform rather than a one-time award.

6. Submission Requirements

All submitted work must be your own original creative practice. Collaborative work is welcome where you were the primary creative lead . Please note your specific role clearly.

We ask you to prepare:

1. Personal Portfolio(PDF, max 20 pages) Your own projects, with concise descriptions of each. Include visual documentation and context where relevant.

2. Creator Statement(max 500 words) Tell us about your creative philosophy and the direction your practice is heading. We'd love to hear it in your own voice.

3. Short Biography(max 150 words) + Self Portrait A brief introduction to who you are! Where you're based, what you do, and what drives your work.

4. Optional Supporting Materials Website links, video, publications, press features, or research materials that give us a fuller picture of your practice.

All materials must be submitted in English.

All materials must be submitted in English.

7. Submission Fee

• Entry: USD 400

This fee covers:

• Commissioned Photography: A new, professional photo shoot for the creator’s profile/portfolio.

• Editorial Production: Professional copywriting and layout for the Merci Magazine feature.

• Awards and Exhibition Costs: Logistics, curation, and physical programming for the Tokyo showcase.

8. Key Dates

• Call for Entries Opens: Now until April 24, 2026

• Results Announcement: May 24, 2026

• Awards Ceremony: November in Tokyo, Japan

9. Selection Process

Submissions will be reviewed through a curated evaluation process by the Merci × Sky editorial and curatorial committee, based on:

• Creative originality

• Conceptual clarity

• Cultural relevance

• Quality of execution

• Future potential

There are no public votes.

10. Rights & Usage

Applicants retain full copyright of their work.

By submitting, applicants grant permission for:

• Editorial publication

• Digital and exhibition presentation

• Programme-related promotion

All usage will be credited and contextualized.

11. Why Asian Emerging Creators Matter

Asian Emerging Creators 2026 exists to:

• Surface voices that do not fit conventional award frameworks

• Encourage thoughtful, culturally grounded creative practices

• Build a long-term archive of Asia’s evolving creative landscape

• Foster dialogue across disciplines, generations, and regions

This is not about being “next.”
It is about being relevant, intentional, and resonant.

FAQ Section

Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I nominate someone else? No. Asian Emerging Creators 2026 is a self-nomination programme only. Each applicant must apply for themselves. If you know someone whose work deserves recognition, encourage them to apply directly.

Can a studio or agency apply on behalf of a creator? No. Applications must come from the individual creator themselves. Studios and agencies are not eligible to submit on someone else's behalf.

Can I submit collaborative work? Yes, if you were the primary creative lead. Please clearly describe your specific role in the project so our committee can evaluate your individual contribution.

Can I submit work from a previous employer or client? Only if it genuinely represents your own creative vision and you hold the right to present it. Work produced purely in a commercial execution capacity where the creative direction belonged to someone else is not suitable for submission.

Can I nominate someone else? Yes. If you know a creator whose work deserves recognition, you are welcome to nominate them directly. You will be responsible for submitting all required materials on their behalf.

Who pays the entry fee for a nomination? Either the nominator or the creator may pay. This is between the two parties to arrange.

For further information about this initiative, please contact:

Sky Design Awards: enquiries@merci-magazine.com or submission@merci-magazine.com