Design Generators

Document research last revised 2026-08-24.

International Collaboration Requirement

International collaboration is permitted where appropriately justified, although projects must be led from the UK.

Research Category

Design-led research integrating arts and humanities disciplines.

Research Organisation Funding

Eligible UK research organisations receive funding at 80% FEC.

Subcontractors

Research and Innovation Associates and subcontractors are not supported under this opportunity.

Interview Stage

Not applicable.

Key Requirements

Projects must be design-led, include at least one non-academic partner, align with environmental sustainability and green transition objectives, and demonstrate strong collaboration between design and arts and humanities disciplines.

Important Notes

This is the first of two rounds of Design Generators. The systems theme will remain across both rounds. The same individuals or teams may submit applications to each round, but an unsuccessful first-round application cannot be resubmitted to the second round. Any proposal submitted to both rounds must be markedly different.

Eligible Organisation Requirement

The project lead must either be employed by the research organisation submitting the application, have an existing formal written arrangement allowing them to carry out the research as if they were an employee, or be scheduled to move to the research organisation before the proposed start date.

Project Co-leads

Project co-leads are supported under this opportunity. Their time commitment must be proportionate to the proposed project, with no specified minimum or maximum commitment.

Mandatory Partner Requirement

Every project must have a non-academic partner. This may include a business, public sector organisation, third-sector organisation, civil society organisation or community organisation. The partner must be relevant to the proposed activities and capable of supporting impact.

Other Ineligible Participants

Job shares are not supported. Project studentships, subcontractors and research and innovation associates are not eligible under this opportunity.

Eligible Activities

Design research and innovation; prototyping products, services and systems with users; developing multidisciplinary design research capabilities; exploring circular, cyclical or regenerative business models; strengthening resilience in third-sector and community organisations; supporting skills transitions; developing policymaking strategies; training and development; public participation; and outreach activities.

Community / Stakeholder Engagement

Projects should engage collaboratively with communities or stakeholders and co-develop interventions that are relevant and responsive to lived experience.

Ineligible Costs / Activities

Costs without a clear rationale or link to proposed activities, including vague consultancy fees and unrelated overheads. Activities or organisations based outside the UK are not supported.

Ineligible Research Focus

Applications that are not primarily rooted in the design discipline. Applications must evidence at least 50% design discipline coverage. Projects that do not directly engage with the theme or instead propose a generic approach to a wider green transition challenge are outside the scope.

Application Submission

Only the lead research organisation can submit the application to UKRI. Applications cannot be submitted through the former Je-S system.

Assessment Timescale

AHRC aims to complete the assessment process within three months of receiving the application.

Objectives

To fund innovative, design-led research that contributes to the green transition, generates new arts and humanities-based approaches and methodologies, supports sustainable innovation, and strengthens design and business capabilities.

Programme Focus

The programme focuses on interventions within existing systems. Examples include healthcare, food networks, governance structures, financial infrastructures and other societal frameworks.

Expected Outcomes

Projects should demonstrate clear pathways to measurable outcomes benefiting stakeholders during the project and beyond its lifetime. Projects should be collaborative, community-engaged and scalable.

Environmental Requirements

Projects must directly address the green transition and may focus on environmental sustainability, decarbonisation, circular economies, policy design or regenerative practices.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

AHRC encourages applications from a diverse range of researchers and supports equality of opportunity, including support for career breaks, caring responsibilities, flexible working and alternative working patterns.

Application Limit

Each eligible research organisation can submit a maximum of two applications to this round. The applications must be substantively different in both partnership team and project objectives.

Project Team Restriction

The project team may participate in only one application for this round.

AHRC Disciplinary Requirement

The overall portfolio of proposed activities must be at least 50% within AHRC's disciplinary remit.

Non-Academic Partner Requirement

A non-academic partner is mandatory. A non-academic partner can participate in more than one application where capacity and strategic alignment allow.

Current Round Status

Closed. Applications could not be submitted after 9 April 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

Next Round

The official page confirms that this is the first of two rounds, but the page checked does not provide the opening and closing dates for the second round. Therefore, do not publish a specific next opening date unless an official AHRC/UKRI announcement confirms it.

Application deadline in source document

9 April 2026, 4:00pm UK time

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance