The Design Generators – UKRI scheme will open on 2nd February 2026. 

This a funding opportunity within the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition programme. It supports short, intensive, design-led research projects that address challenges associated with environmental sustainability and the green transition through arts and humanities–led approaches.

Design Generators is intended to enable researchers to prototype, test, and refine design-based interventions in real-world contexts. The scheme prioritises action-oriented research that combines critical enquiry with practical experimentation, rather than purely theoretical or descriptive work. Projects are expected to generate learning that is transferable beyond a single case study and that contributes to the wider Future Observatory portfolio.

Awards are typically in the range of £150,000–£200,000 at Full Economic Cost, with AHRC funding 80% in line with standard UKRI rules. Projects normally run for 9 to 12 months, reflecting the scheme’s focus on focused, time-limited interventions rather than long-term research programmes.

The deadline for submission is the 9th April 2026 at 4pm.

Scope and approach

Projects must address aspects of the green transition, broadly defined. This may include climate mitigation and adaptation, circular and regenerative economies, sustainable housing, mobility, energy or food systems, and environmental governance. The scheme places particular emphasis on the social, cultural, behavioural, and systemic dimensions of these challenges, rather than on technical or engineering-led solutions.

Design is understood as a research method and mode of inquiry, not simply as a tool for communication or dissemination. Strong proposals will demonstrate how design enables new ways of framing problems, engaging stakeholders, and testing interventions within complex systems.

Partnerships and collaboration

Meaningful collaboration with non-academic partners is a core requirement of the scheme. Projects are expected to involve partners such as local authorities, businesses, third-sector organisations, community groups, or cultural institutions in substantive roles. Partners should be actively involved in shaping and delivering the project, rather than acting solely as consultees or recipients of outputs.

Given the short timescale of the award and the tight application deadline, applicants are expected to have established collaborations in place and well-developed project ideas at the point of application. Projects that rely on speculative partnerships or under-developed concepts are unlikely to be competitive.

Managed Internal Process

This opportunity will be run as a managed internal call. Interested applicants will be required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form in the first instance. Please see the Timeline.

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to present their proposal to an internal panel, followed by an internal peer review process to support final selection and development.

Who should consider applying

The scheme is particularly well suited to postdoctoral and early- to mid-career researchers with experience in design-led or practice-based research, who are comfortable working with external partners and managing uncertainty and iteration. Applicants should be able to demonstrate clear leadership, feasibility, and strong alignment with the aims of the Future Observatory programme.

For further information, please contact: paola.palma@port.ac.uk and harriet.parr@port.ac.uk

Timeline

The anticipated timeline is as follows:

  • Internal call launch: 02/02
  • Internal submission of EoI deadline (applicants): 12/02
  • Panel review period: 12/02 – 19/02
  • Submission of final draft for Peer Review College (applicants): 16/03
  • Applicants to receive back their peer reviewed work: 27/03
  • Deadline – Submission to funder by 9/04

Please note that the Submission to the Funder is after the Easter Holidays period and therefore there may be a limited support during this time.

AHRC Design Generators Expression of Interest – Fill in form