Reality Design Research Fellowship

Vision

While Reality Design Lab operates as an independent research institution, international collaboration is at its core. 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. In 2024, this effort helped several CAA undergraduates and graduates 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 expanded my support beyond China Academy of Art to reach the broader public by launching the Reality Design Research Fellowship (RDRF) in 2025, 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

Grantees

Reality Design Research Fellowship 2026 Fellowship Grantees

Ying Lei is a master's student at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, advised by Prof. Carman Neustaedter. As a Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Centered AI researcher, Ying studies the societal impacts of emerging AI and future socio-technical systems, especially how AI agents reshape identity, relationships, and social coordination. Ying holds a B.Eng. in Computer Science from East China Normal University.

Machinic Reality Design × Protocolized Reality Design

Reality Design Research Fellowship 2025 Fellowship Grantees

Danlin is a Master of Design (MDes) student at UC Berkeley and received a B.Eng. from the China Academy of Art, Institute for Media and Interaction Studies. As an artist and design researcher, Danlin uses sensory-augmentation technologies such as XR, biosensors, and AI to enrich bodily experience and expand cognition, with papers published at SIGGRAPH, CHI, DIS, DRS, IEEE VR, and TEI.

Augmented Reality Design × More-than-Human Reality Design × Somatic Reality Design

Works during Fellowship: Body Oracle, FeltSight, EchoVision, FungiSync

2027 Fellowship Call for Applications

Overview

We invite innovative, self-driven, early-career research-led designers, artists, and researchers to explore the future of reality design through emerging technologies. The 2027 Fellowship provides financial support and expert mentorship, enabling you to submit your work to international conferences or exhibitions, build new networks, and enhance your prospects for further study or professional development.

Fellowship Benefits

1. Funding  

All funding is provided within the one-year fellowship period, up to $5,000 per fellow in total (including the research grant).

  • Research Grant:  
    • $1,500 upon acceptance into the fellowship (to cover research materials, user studies, project development, etc.).  
  • Post-Acceptance Conference/Exhibition Grant:  
    • Up to $1,500 per travel for accepted venue (it covers publication fees, conference registration, international travel, and exhibition costs).
    • Long-haul flights or multiple acceptances may receive additional support (based on further discussion), within the $5,000 total.

2. Supervision & Mentorship  

You will receive direct mentorship and supervision from our mentor group in the following areas:

  • Positioning your work within international art, design, and academic communities.  
  • Academic writing techniques and conference-ready presentation skills.  
  • Brainstorming and concept refinement.  
  • Networking and resources (introductions to experts, curators, etc.).  
  • Guidance on grant applications for future research or artistic endeavors.

Expectations

As a Fellow, you will:

  1. Complete your creative project with proper and detailed presentation, including comprehensive data and documentation (videos, photos, and user studies)
  2. Write up a paper based on your project with guidance from our mentors.
  3. Submit your work to international conferences, journals, and exhibitions.
  4. Acknowledge the fellowship and its donors in your publications and exhibitions.
  5. Present your work at venues (when accepted) to share ideas and expand your professional network.
  6. Join our vibrant community and build lasting professional relationships.
  7. Mentor future fellows by sharing your insights and experiences.
  8. Embrace the uncertainty inherent in your research journey.
  9. Reach out for support when needed—we want you to flourish and build meaningful connections!

Research & Creative Focus Areas

While we welcome diverse proposals, priority will be given to projects aligned with the following areas (each posed as a guiding question):

  1. Protocolized Reality Design
  2. More-than-Human Reality Design
    • Question: How can we design art and experiences that elevate our awareness of ecosystems, more-than-human perspectives, and planetary concerns?
    • Example projects: EchoVision, FeltSight, FungiSync
  3. Augmented Reality Design
    • Question: How can mixed reality create shared, embodied experiences among people in everyday spaces?
    • Example projects: MOFA, City of Sparkles, HoloKit X
  4. Somatic Reality Design
  5. Machinic Reality Design

Potential Venues

Eligibility

We encourage applications from:

  1. Undergraduate & Graduate Students who aim to publish or exhibit their creative artwork in art academic community.

  2. Professional Designers, and artists seeking global exposure in art academic settings.

  3. Anyone who believes this fellowship can help them flourish in research-driven art and design.

Application Requirements

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)  (up to 10 pages)

  2. Portfolio (up to 20 pages showcasing your work)

  3. Writing Sample (Optional but Recommended)  

    • An academic manuscript or paper in English, maximum of 20 pages.  
    • ArXiv link preferred.

  4. Project Proposal  

  • Title  
    • Key Visual/Concept Image (if available)  
    • 150-word Abstract
    • Proposed target venue(s) for submission
  1. Statement of Purpose (max. 500 words)  
    • How does your project relate to our fellowship research topic?
    • What community will this project impact and why?
    • What makes this work worthy of international publication?
    • Future career goals  
    • Current skill set  
    • Skills/knowledge you aim to develop during the fellowship

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: Jan 30, 2027
  • Notification of Results: Feb 28, 2027.

Mentor Team

  • Botao Amber Hu

More mentors will join in future fellowship rounds. We welcome you to join us if you're interested in helping students.

How to Apply

Complete the Google Form linked below.

Contact & More Information

If you have any questions about the fellowship, donor contributions, applying mentorship, or logistics, feel free to email:  

future@reality.design

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to your proposals and the collective insights they will bring to the ever-evolving sphere of research-led art and design.

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.