As a patron of Doha UNESCO City of Design, Qatar Museums' International Cooperation and Government Affairs department is pleased to share this international opportunity for emerging designers to showcase their work at the 2026 Global Mobility Showcase in Detroit.
About the Open Call
Join the 2026 Global Mobility Showcase Open Call and showcase your ideas alongside emerging designers from UNESCO Cities of Design around the world. Hosted by Design Core Detroit—steward of Detroit's UNESCO City of Design designation and a member of the Global Epicenter of Mobility coalition—the 2026 Global Mobility Showcase celebrates the role of design in addressing the world's evolving mobility challenges. Bringing together innovative student projects from UNESCO Cities of Design, the exhibition highlights creative solutions that shape more connected, accessible, and sustainable communities while fostering international dialogue and collaboration.
The showcase will launch during Eastern Market After Dark, the flagship event of Detroit Month of Design, expected to welcome more than 30,000 visitors. This open call offers university students and recent design graduates in Qatar the opportunity to present their work on a global stage, engage with an international design community, and contribute to the future of mobility through innovative design.
Who Is Eligible?
Undergraduate and graduate university students studying:
- Industrial Design
- Design for Assistive Mobility Devices
- Transportation Design
- UX Design
- Other mobility-related design fields
Students studying design at non-degree institutions and trade schools are also eligible to submit projects.
Eligible Projects
Projects may include, but are not limited to:
Vehicle Design
- Cars
- Trucks
- Buses
- eVTOL aircraft
- Boats
- Trains
Assistive Mobility Devices
- Wheelchairs
- Wearable robots
- Solutions that help people move
UX Design for Mobility
- In-vehicle AI
- Infotainment systems
- Wayfinding
- Mobility applications
Urban Spaces & Public Infrastructure
- Designs that improve accessibility
- Solutions that enhance transportation quality
Other Concepts
- Any design that helps move people or goods on land, in the air, or on water
Timeline
- 1 August 2026: Deadline for submissions, including one clear concept image (16:9 aspect ratio preferred), three supporting images (e.g. storyboards, sketches, research), and a one-paragraph written description of the concept.
- 5 August 2026: Jury review of submitted projects.
- 7 August 2026: Applicants notified of accepted projects.
- 21 August 2026: Deadline for submission of final artwork files.
- September 2026: Board printing and production by Design Core Detroit.
- 11–17 September 2026: Exhibition period.
Submit your application to kgilboe@designcore.org. For general inquiries, contact international@qm.org.qa.
