PORADA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2026
Now opens for entries – the table takes centre stage in the 14th edition
March 2026 – Applications are now officially open for the Porada International Design Award 2026, the international competition promoted by Porada in collaboration with POLI.design – the postgraduate training centre that is an integral part of the Politecnico di Milano Design System – and held under the patronage of ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale.
Now in its fourteenth year, the 2026 edition of the contest focuses on the table as its central theme and invites Italian and international design students and professionals to submit innovative table concepts that combine creativity, design research and material experimentation.
Projects must feature solid wood as the primary material, in combination with other materials from the Porada collection – such as marble, ceramic and glass – reflecting the company’s distinctive production technologies and manufacturing processes. Particular attention will be given to functionality, compliance with safety regulations, ergonomic requirements and the principles of sustainable design.
Participation is open to students and professionals in the field of design. Applications and project submissions must be completed online by 31 January 2027 via a dedicated platform.
“With the launch of the 2026 edition, we aim to offer students and professionals the opportunity to develop compelling and innovative design concepts. This year, we are revisiting the theme of the table, previously explored in the 2013 edition of the competition—one of Porada’s flagship products—where the choice of wood type, in relation to specific product characteristics, is fundamental to the design process. We look forward to proposals capable of interpreting contemporary needs while expressing Porada’s aesthetic and creative language.” Tiziano Allievi – Chief Executive Officer, Porada
“Competitions such as the Porada International Design Award represent an important opportunity for research and exchange within the design community. Through initiatives of this kind, students and professionals are able to engage with concrete design themes—such as the table, the focus of this 14th edition—and with the wealth of manufacturing expertise of a company like Porada. The collaboration with an institution such as POLI.design makes it possible to structure this process within a solid academic and methodological framework, transforming the competition into a strategic platform for dialogue between design culture, education and the production system.” Anna Barbara – President, POLI.design
An expert jury, composed among others of representatives from Porada, POLI.design and ADI, will evaluate the projects based on criteria including originality, level of innovation, research into solid wood processing, material experimentation, and the ability to propose new usage scenarios for contemporary furniture.
The jury will select three winners for each category (Students and Professionals) and will also award the Giacomo Allievi Special Mention, for a total prize fund of €11,000. The award ceremony will take place during a dedicated event organized by Porada.
“Placing an archetypal element of furniture such as the table at the centre means inviting designers and students to engage with an object that brings together function, interaction and domestic identity. Initiatives such as the Porada International Design Award provide fertile ground for the growth of design culture, fostering dialogue between companies, emerging talents and design research, and contributing to the renewal of Italy’s design heritage through experimentation, material awareness and a strong focus on sustainability.” Luciano Galimberti – President, ADI
Applications are officially open on the following website:
https://www.porada-design-award.polidesign.net