Call for application: 2026 Róng Design Library Residency Programme x Pro Helvetia Shanghai  

Róng Design Library Residency Programme 

In 2015, Róng Design Library launched an annual ‘Róng Design Library Residency Programme’ with the aim of inviting designers from different countries and regions to come to mainland China for a period of time and have their creative ideas collide with traditional Chinese handicrafts and materials from different fields. Through on-site investigation, design creation, sample making, and production, the designers complete a piece (or a set) of works.

The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, with its Liaison Office in Shanghai, joined the project as a co-initiator in 2019. Its aim is to foster a dynamic environment that bridges traditional Chinese crafts and contemporary Swiss design, inviting mutual inspiration. Residents will engage with local artisans and gain fresh perspectives. This one-month residency will take place between March 2025 and December 2025 depending on the candidates’ and the host’s availability.  

Up to now, the program has welcomed more than 50 designers from 10+ countries and regions, including Swiss designers like Laure Gremion, Louisa Carmona, and Alix Arto. The selected designers from the 2025 call are Ivo Theo Frederico Allgoewer, Pauline Agustoni, Valentin Dubois, Léon Félix.

more information can click: https://www.ronglibrary.com/resident

Residency for Swiss Designers 

Pro Helvetia Shanghai supports two to four Swiss designers to become Róng Design Library’s residents for the year 2026. The candidate designers will be able to research and study Chinese traditional handicrafts and materials (bamboo, silk, mud, copper, paper, etc.), and combine the learnt techniques with their own practice. 

The selected designers will benefit from the following:

• International flight tickets
• One-month accommodation
• Budget for traditional craftsmanship workshop visit (flight/ road transportation & accommodation)
• Materials and sample-making support（up to CNY 5,000=CHF 600）
• One local assistant
• A one-to-one professional adviser support from the four co-founders of Róng Library during the designer’s stay, including design and production support and business development consultant in China
• Possibility to use the showcase space in Róng Design Library to exhibit the results of the residency
• Possibility of exhibiting at fairs
• Matchmaking events with related local business owners  

How to apply? 

The application file must include (in PDF version): 

• Studio contact information (Website, social media pages, etc.)
• CV and a short biography (approx. 150 words)
• Portfolio (max. 10 images of previous works)
• Motivation letter (approx. 300 words) explaining what you plan to create during your residency period 
• Proposed dates of your residency (suggest up to 3 periods) 

Application Criteria

• Emerging talents are designers who completed their professional education in a design-relevant field or who founded a company (as a legal entity, a sole proprietorship or company) less than seven years ago
• At least 50% of the studio members are Swiss citizens or permanent residents in Switzerland. If there is more than one studio member who would like to apply for this residency project, each of them will need to submit a separate application.  

To participate in the 2026 residency programme for Swiss designers, please send your application to shanghai@prohelvetia.org before noon, Sunday, 21 September 2025 (UTC+2).

Timeline 

• Application deadline: noon, 21 September 2025
• Announcement of candidate: Friday, 24 October 2025
• Residency period: One month, between April 2026 and December 2026

Questions 

Please email us at  jfan@prohelvetia.ch for any questions.

We are looking forward to receiving your applications!  

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