Design Generators
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) · United Kingdom
Grant funding to support design-led research projects that combine arts and humanities methodologies with design practice to create interventions that contribute to the green transition and environmental sustainability. Projects should generate new knowledge, prototypes or methodologies addressing challenges such as decarbonisation, circular economies and regenerative systems.
Summary
Deadline
9 Apr 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Grant funding to support design-led research projects that combine arts and humanities methodologies with design practice to create interventions that contribute to the green transition and environmental sustainability. Projects should generate new knowledge, prototypes or methodologies addressing challenges such as decarbonisation, circular economies and regenerative systems.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Design, arts and humanities research contributing to environmental sustainability and the green transition.
Match funding
Not required
Requirements
Researchers at eligible UK research organisations across all career stages who hold a doctorate or equivalent research experience and are actively engaged in postdoctoral research. The application must be submitted by a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding. Projects must develop design-led interventions within existing systems using arts and humanities methodologies to address sus...
Eligible applicants
Researchers at eligible UK research organisations across all career stages who hold a doctorate or equivalent research experience and are actively engaged in postdoctoral research.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£150,000 to £200,000 full economic cost (AHRC funds 80%)
Total fund available
£1,000,000
Funding intensity
AHRC funds 80% of the full economic cost of the project.
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Projects must develop design-led interventions within existing systems using arts and humanities methodologies to address sustainability and environmental transition challenges.
Eligible expenses
- Costs related to research activities including design research, prototyping, stakeholder engagement, training activities, outreach and participant engagement costs where justified.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under AHRC Design Generators funding opportunity terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
AHRC aims to complete the assessment process within approximately three months after the application deadline.
Assessment process
Applications are assessed by expert reviewers and an assessment panel which ranks proposals and recommends projects for funding.
Application sections
- Summary, vision, approach, applicant and team capability to deliver, ethics and responsible research and innovation, research involving human participation, resources and cost justification, project partners and data management and sharing.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the design discipline scope, do not meet eligibility requirements or do not follow application guidance.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
2 Feb 2026
Project duration
9 to 12 months
Project start
31 Aug 2026
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Projects must include a non-academic partner contributing to the project and supporting delivery of impact.
- Not specified
Consortium requirements
- Each project must involve a non-academic partner such as a business, public sector organisation, third sector organisation or community organisation.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Design-led research within arts and humanities disciplines."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Subcontractors and research and innovation associates are not supported under this funding opportunity."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Projects must be design-led, include a non-academic partner and align with green transition objectives within arts and humanities research."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Each eligible research organisation may submit a maximum of two applications to this funding round and each project team member may participate in only one application."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 9 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- £150,000 to £200,000 full economic cost (AHRC funds 80%)
- Funding band
- Mid (£500k-£5M)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Design, arts and humanities research contributing to environmental sustainability and the green transition.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 26 Nov 2025