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Royal College of Art announces the Pokémon Scholars for 2026

Key details

Date

  • 5 October 2026

Author

  • RCA

School, Centre or Area

Read time

  • 2 minutes

The Royal College of Art (RCA) and Pokémon with You Foundation announce the winners of the ninth Pokémon scholarship, Emily Millward and Joey More.

Key details

Date

  • 5 October 2026

Author

  • RCA

School, Centre or Area

Read time

  • 2 minutes

The Royal College of Art (RCA) and Pokémon with You Foundation announce the winners of the ninth Pokémon scholarship, Emily Millward and Joey More.

Supporting the next generation of creative pioneers, the 2026/2027 Pokémon Scholarship funds two RCA students pushing boundaries in design, visual arts, and communications. Beyond receiving scholarship support for their studies, the pair will also be invited on an exclusive visit to The Pokémon Company’s headquarters in Japan.

Emily Millward and Joey More pose with Pikachu at The Pokémon Company International offices

Emily Millward and Joey More at The Pokémon Company International offices, London, photo by David Christopher Photography

Emily Millward (MA Architecture) is a designer exploring the intersection of architecture, visual narrative and drawing. Her practice investigates drawing not only as a means of representation, but as a method of thinking, researching and constructing spatial relationships. Her recent work explores complex ecological systems, developing fluid, multi-scalar drawing methodologies to reveal the hidden impacts of human activity around Lake Windermere and their consequences for the lake’s ecology. By moving between microscopic and territorial scales, her drawings trace the interconnected processes of human activity, infrastructure and ecological change, making otherwise invisible relationships perceptible.

An intricate, sepia-toned architectural illustration featuring complex circular systems, layered diagrams, and fine technical hand-drawings across a panoramic landscape.

Emily Millward, Timeline

“I am so pleased to be the recipient of the Pokémon Scholarship this year. It will give me the space and security to focus entirely on my studies, allowing me to explore ideas and approaches that sit at the periphery of conventional architectural practice. I am incredibly grateful for this support, which will enable me to experiment and explore new directions within my work.” Emily Millward MA Architecture student and scholarship recipient for 2026/27

Headshots of Emily Millward and Joey More

Pokémon scholars Emily Millward and Joey More

Joey More (MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering) is a design engineer interested in creative applications of technology to tackle complex problems. Joey’s practice blends craftsmanship with cutting-edge approaches, getting hands-on to turn ambitious ideas into practical realities. With a background in political science research and international market consulting, Joey brings an interdisciplinary, cross-scalar approach to tackling complex problems with consideration of the power of infrastructure, policy and culture. Recent works have included a bespoke CNC needle felting machine to create woollen objects with complex internal structure, a smart ‘pet rock’ for self-soothing on the go, and a custom data visualisation platform for researchers and policy makers to understand global trade infrastructure.

A sculptural chair featuring a thick, off-white felted wool seat supported by a minimalist, tubular metallic frame.

Joey More, Unkempt project

“The Pokémon Scholarship gives me the opportunity to creatively and intellectually explore during my MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering course in ways that I simply could not have imagined without Pokémon’s support. The scholarship allows me to take meaningful risks and experiment with novel methods and technologies as I develop as a transdisciplinary designer and engineer. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the Pokémon with You Foundation for their transformational support.” Joey More MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering student and scholarship recipient for 2026/27

  • “The Pokémon Scholarship strives to nurture students who use their creative power to pave the way to the future, through art and design. This year’s two recipients each embody this vision through their own distinct approach. We sensed in both recipients a rare sensibility; the ability to transform ecosystems and the vast, unseen system that quietly shapes our everyday lives into tangible forms through patient and careful observations. We look forward to seeing what new forms of expression their two contrasting perspectives will generate at the RCA, and what new inspiration they will bring to Pokémon.”

    Tsunekazu Ishihara Representative Director Chairman of Pokémon with You Foundation

  • “We are excited for Emily to have been awarded the Pokémon Scholarship. Her hand drawings offer a distinctive methodology for exploring how architecture can respond to environmental dynamics and ecologies across micro to macro scales. Emily’s beautiful hand-drawing techniques are a wonderful complement to a scholarship dedicated to alternative and future technologies. Her work opens up an exciting space at the intersection of science, technology and hand-based techniques, considering how these different modes of enquiry can reveal new forms of architectural agency and ways of engaging with complex environmental systems.”

    Beth Hughes Head of Programme (Architecture MArch (ARB/RIBA))

  • “The Innovation Design Engineering programme is excited that Joey More has been selected as one of this year's Pokémon Scholars. Tackling many of the challenging and complex problems that we face today requires the kind of cross-disciplinary approach that Joey takes in his work. The scholarship will help him continue exploring methods that apply technologies in new ways to better meet the needs of both individuals and society.”

    Christina Choi Head of Programme (MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering)