agIdeas NewStar is a scholarship and exhibition program that is part of agIdeas International Design Week, the largest and most prestigious design festival in the world. Each year agIdeas NewStar offers emerging designers the opportunity to win work experience at some of the world’s most prestigious design studios or to engage in innovative projects at the infamous Fabrica, Benetton’s Communication Research Centre in Italy.

Young designers are asked to submit their best works in 2D, 3D and multimedia. The entrants are shortlisted by a panel of leading Australian designers and the winners are selected by the international and local guest speakers at agIdeas. The top 30 rising stars form a highly regarded exhibition and have their work printed in the annual agIdeas event publication. The aim is to encourage excellence in young designers and enhance their career prospects by expanding their international perspectives and networks.

The winners receive travelling scholarships to be mentored by a leading international design master at a studio of their choice from a list of the highest profile studios in the world, including Pentagram, AllofUs, IDEO, Prologue, SeymourPowell, Guerrilla Games, Gnomon School of VFX, Ken Miki and Ass, MadeThought and Fabrica.

The top 30 emerging designers are exposed to more than 70,000 through a curated exhibition in Melbourne and through the annual agIdeas publication.

Since inception this program has given more than 50 young designers international work experience and an opportunity to launch their design careers globally.

“You are not only exposed to international designers and ideas but you are also encouraged to pursue and develop your own approaches and hopefully collectively discover new understandings.”

Former Fabrica scholarship winner Scott Heinrich

“A priority to provoke our thinking, stimulate our senses, ‘ fire our imaginations and show us how to make our businesses more profitable.“

Ken Cato, Chairman, Design Foundation