Design Society Scholarship Opportunities

Introducing the Design Society Volunteering and Conference Scholarships

The Design Society is pleased to launch two new scholarship models to support our members’ participation in leading conferences across the design research and education community. These scholarships are designed to foster inclusivity, reduce financial barriers, and enhance member engagement by enabling more members to attend and contribute to Design Society-supported events.

Attending conferences in person provides unique opportunities for professional growth—sharing research, engaging with cutting-edge ideas, building networks, and strengthening our community. To help make this possible for a wider range of members, we are now offering two types of Scholarships

• 1. Volunteer Scholarships: Support the conference – and gain support in return.
• 2. Conference Scholarships Supporting members facing financial barriers to conference participation.

Scholarships open for applications can be found below, along with further details on the two types of scholarship models.

1. Volunteer Scholarships

Support the conference – and gain support in return.

Our Volunteer Scholarship model invites members to contribute their time and skills to conference organisation in exchange for a reimbursement of their registration fee (travel and accommodation costs are not included). This scheme is open to all Design Society members, with priority given to full-time students, early career researchers, and those from underrepresented regions.

Volunteers typically assist with tasks such as:

• Conference session hosting (in-person or virtual)
• Photography, videography, or social media coverage
• Graphic or digital design support
• General event coordination and logistics

Volunteers are expected to contribute approximately 25% of the daily conference hours, and must commit to attending the full event. Reimbursement will be processed after successful completion of duties, verified by the conference organisers.

2. Conference Scholarships

Supporting members facing financial barriers to conference participation.

This scholarship model offers direct reimbursement of conference registration fees to enable members to attend without needing to volunteer. It is designed for Design Society members who lack institutional support or personal resources to cover the cost of attendance. Scholarships will be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and professional contribution to the field.

Who Can Apply?

Both scholarships are open to all current Design Society members. The number of scholarships awarded will depend on available funding and the host conference. Applications are especially encouraged from students, early-career researchers, and individuals from regions where access to professional events may be limited.

How to Apply

Visit our Scholarship Application Page for full eligibility criteria, submission guidelines, and to complete your application.

For questions, please contact: admin@designsociety.org

By launching these scholarship initiatives, the Design Society aims to ensure that more voices, ideas, and talents can be present at our conferences, enhancing the impact, diversity, and reach of our global design community.

We look forward to your applications!