Reality Design Research Fellowship

Vision

While Reality Design Lab operates as an independent research institution, international collaboration is at its core. In the past year, I've partnered with researchers from leading institutions including Stanford, HKUST, NYU, UW, UT Austin, MIT, and Ethereum Foundation, reinforcing my belief that global academic partnerships are crucial for advancing innovation.

When I served as visiting lecturer at the School of Design and Innovation at the China Academy of Art (CAA)—the largest art institution in the world in terms of student numbers—I was struck by the sheer volume of bold ideas and creative energy around me. Many students and emerging artists aspired to present their groundbreaking projects at international venues to receive feedback from the global art and academic community, pursue further graduate studies abroad, or kick-start research-led creative careers. Yet, time and again, I witnessed two persistent challenges:

  1. Limited Funding: The high costs of travel, exhibition, and publication made global exposure difficult.
  2. Communication Barriers: A lack of academic writing and presentation skills prevented many from effectively sharing their work in international venues.

Motivated to overcome these hurdles, I initiated a pilot mentorship and sponsorship program. Over the past year 2024, this effort has helped several CAA undergraduates and graduates—such as Danlin Huang (6 publications), Jianan Liu (8 publications), and Shan Luo (4 publications)—secure acceptances at top-tier conferences including CHI, SIGGRAPH, UbiComp, TEI, CHI PLAY, SIGGRAPH Asia, CSCW, and ASSETS. Their success stories proved that with the right resources, guidance, and determination, emerging talents can indeed shine on the global stage.

Inspired by my students' achievements and the spirit of the Decentralized Science (DeSci) movement, I am expanding my support beyond China Academy of Art to reach the broader public. I proudly announce Reality Design Research Fellowship (RDRF), a program supporting promising early-career artists, designers, and researchers through funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, helping exceptional minds reach their full potential to publish in international art, design, and academic communities.

I warmly encourage everyone—whether an undergraduate, graduate student, early-career academic, or practicing artist—to take this opportunity, apply, and join us in advancing the frontiers of creativity and innovation.


Sincerely,
Botao Amber Hu
Director of Reality Design Lab

To Donors

By opening a transparent, blockchain-backed funding mechanism, we also invite donors to partner with us in shaping the future of reality through art, design, and research.

A vital element of this fellowship’s success is our commitment to transparent, community-driven funding. By leveraging blockchain technology, we ensure that every donation is openly tracked and auditable, giving donors full visibility into how their contributions are allocated. Philanthropic individuals or organizations who share our passion for expanding opportunities in art and design can support the fellowship through:

Your generosity will help promising talents gain the resources and mentorship they need to bring their ideas to the global stage. Together, we can cultivate a new generation of visionary artists, designers, and researchers who will shape the future of creative practice.

2025 Fellowship Grantees

Danlin is a undergraduate student in China Academy of Art, Institute for Media and Interaction Studies. 
Currently, Danlin is an intern at SONY DCC (Design Center China). At the same time Danlin serves as a research assistant in the Reality Design Lab and teaching assistant for the "XR Soma Design" course at China Academy of Art.