The SAY Design Commission 2026

Each year, The SAY Award Design Commission sees an artist, designer or maker create bespoke prizes for the bands and artists being celebrated at The SAY Award Ceremony, highlighting the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland. Previous makers have fabricated jesmonite arches, used natural slate veneer, and have created sand-cast sculptures using recycled glass.

The SAY Award Design Commission offers a fee of £3,000 for the design and manufacture (including materials and packaging) of the fourteen required awards. The creative chosen and the prizes they produce will be amplified across SAY Award social media channels, and supported by host city partners, Leisure and Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and UNESCO City of Design Dundee.

As part of The SAY Award’s host city partnership with Dundee, the artist or designer selected for 2026’s commission will be living or working within a DD postcode.

The prizes will be showcased at this year’s SAY Award, taking place on Thursday 5 November at Dundee’s Caird Hall. A short video package on the commission will be shown at the live event, prior to the commissioned prizes being presented to some of Scotland’s most outstanding musical talent. Following the event, one of the awards will be displayed in V&A Dundee’s Scottish Design Galleries.

Applicants are invited to outline how they would propose to embed sustainability at the forefront of all stages of the process, giving consideration to design, materials, manufacture and packaging. Applicants are also encouraged to take inspiration from the city and region of Dundee.

If you'd like to be considered, please read the brief here and register your interest via the form before midnight on Wednesday 22 July.