Overview

The Seed Award serves as a forward-looking statement of how DBCS envisions design leaders who will flourish in the future. It seeks to broaden traditional measures of success in design education by recognising leadership qualities that are critically important and that will support graduates throughout their careers.

Criteria & Guidelines

The 5
Designer Qualities

01

Creative Impact

Concerns the use of design to address real needs and to deliver positive, measurable outcomes for users, stakeholders, or society.

02

Critical Thinking

Concerns clear problem framing, evaluation of alternatives, and reasoned judgement in conditions of ambiguity.

03

Connective Intelligence

Concerns empathy and collaboration across disciplines and communities, together with the ability to integrate human, nature, and digital considerations.

04

Perseverance

Concerns resilience, reflective learning, and sustained effort in the face of constraints or setbacks.

05

Ethical
Decision-making

Concerns integrity, anticipation of consequences, and demonstrable regard for the public good in design decisions.

Guidelines

“As we advance, let us hold firmly to the values that make us human. Because it is these values that will guide how we use technology and ensure it serves people, and not the other way around”

- Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Digital Development and Information

Submission Guide

All awardee submission must be completed through the online form via www.seedaward.sg/submission

Every submission includes:

  • Submission Form, to be completed online
  • Administrative Fee invoiced by DBCS to respective institutions after completed submission.
    Fee per student: S$70 for DBCS Education Institutions Members and S$150 for non-members
  • Rationale (100–200 words) to explain the selected grading across the 5 designer qualities

For each Top Seed student nomination, additional materials are required. This includes:

  • Additional Rationale prepared by the nominating staff member that outlines why this nominee stands out nationally across the 5 designer qualities
  • Evidence Pack containing project summaries, process documentation, indicators of impact, and testimonials where available
    File format: PDF, up to 10 slides

DBCS may request additional materials for verification. All submissions must be submitted through the online platform by 31 October 2025.

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Timeline

Key Dates

Submission.

During this period, institutions should enter and complete submissions via www.seedaward.sg/submission

At the same time, identify up to 3 candidates for the Top Seed Award and prepare the additional materials required for that nomination.

Incomplete or late entries will not be considered.

Today

Submission Deadline.

By this date, all institutions must complete their submissions and upload the required materials (where applicable) for each student via the designated online platform.

Upon verification of all completed submissions, DBCS will acknowledge receipt and issue a payment invoice to the respective institutions.

24 October 2025

Announcement and Recognition.

DBCS provides formal confirmation to institutional coordinators of all Seed Award awardees and issues official invitations to all participating institutions, together with individual invitations to the Top Seed awardees to attend the DBCS Gala.

10 November 2025

Award Ceremony.

All participating institutions are invited to attend, and the Top Seed awardees receive their token award, presented by the President.

Recognised students and participating Institutes of Higher Learning may be acknowledged in DBCS communications and at the Gala, subject to approval of supplied media assets.

25 November 2025

Nominate the Top Seed

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Are students from different years of study eligible to receive the award?

Yes, all students in a design-related programme are eligible.

Are graduates eligible for the award?

Yes, recently graduated students (within the previous academic year) are eligible.

What level of rubric assessment will students need to qualify?

Students just need to meet the Emerging level of each criteria to qualify for the Seed Award. There is no need to be Effective or Exemplary in any criteria as we acknowledge that youth are still learning and establishing themselves. For Top Seed Award nominations, institutions are encouraged to put forward students who are at least Effective (Level 2) and preferably Exemplary (Level 3) across the 5 design qualities.

The criteria and rubrics sound very broad. I’m not sure if this student would qualify?

As we are awarding based on future leadership qualities and not knowledge and ability tests, there will always be a margin of interpretation and ambiguity in the rubrics to acknowledge the richness and complexity that is life. We trust that the IHL will be able to provide stories and rationale for the students upon submission. However, if further clarifications need to be made, DBCS will follow up with the IHL.

Is there another way to submit if I have bulk submissions for the Seed Award?

Yes. You can submit all entries via a spreadsheet; please contact Shirley Yang at shirley@dbcsingapore.org if you want to do a bulk submission.

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