The College of Art and Design recently received the Outstanding Organization Award for its work as the host institution for the Tianjin division of the 12th Oriental Design Award National University Innovation and Design Competition and the 2026 Oriental Design Award National Teaching Innovation and Design Competition for Faculty. The college promoted the competitions, organized faculty and student participation, and managed the evaluation of Tianjin entries.

First launched in 2014 by industry associations and universities, the Oriental Design Award National University Innovation and Design Competition was formerly known as the Oriental Design Star National University Innovation and Design Competition. It focuses on interdisciplinary innovation linking design with industry, agriculture, medicine and the internet. The National Institute of Industrial Design in the field of ecological design and the Commercial Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade became co-organizers in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In August 2022, the competition was added to the National College Student Art Competition Index. It now attracts participants from more than 1,000 universities each year.

Since 2024, the college has organized submissions and judging for the Tianjin division. More than 20 Tianjin universities submit approximately 3,000 entries each year. The organizing committee has presented the college with the Outstanding Organization Award for two consecutive years.

The college uses major competitions to support program development and student training. Competition projects are incorporated into teaching to strengthen practical design skills, while inter-university participation creates opportunities for institutions to learn from one another.