Great — below are budget-friendly design-forward hotels in major global cities. I focused on properties that pair distinctive/intentional design with lower price points (budget to budget-midrange). Prices vary by season and booking site, so treat the ranges as typical starting points.

New York City (USA)

• Pod 51 (Midtown) — compact, modern “Pod” rooms with smart, space‑efficient design; rooftop and social spaces. Price: roughly $100–$200/night depending on season. (exoticplacestotravel.com)
• Pod 39 (Midtown) — similar small-footprint, design-forward rooms and lively lobby/rooftop. Price: ~$100–$220/night. (allthingsnewyorkcity.com)

London (UK)

• The Hoxton (several locations, e.g., Southwark) — stylish, well‑designed rooms and buzzy public spaces; a design-led boutique chain with reasonable midweek deals. Price: ~£120–£220/night (varies by location). (thetimes.co.uk)
• Zetter Townhouse / Zetter Hotel (Clerkenwell) — quirky, curated interiors in a compact boutique footprint; often good value outside peak dates.

Paris (France)

• Mama Shelter (multiple arrondissements) — playful, contemporary interiors by Philippe Starck’s circle; lively common areas and consistent midrange pricing. Price: ~$120–$220/night.
• Generator Paris (10th) — hostel/hotel hybrid with bold design, private rooms and social spaces; good for budget design seekers.

Barcelona (Spain)

• Yurbban Trafalgar (La Ribera) — boutique design converted from historic building, rooftop pool and locally made décor; often great value for location and style. Price: ~$110–$210/night. (the-independent.com)
• Pol & Grace (Sarrià/Sant Gervasi) — small boutique with quirky, contemporary interiors and rooftop terrace; typically very good rates for quality. (the-independent.com)

Berlin (Germany)

• Motel One (multiple locations) — the original “budget design” chain in Europe: consistent modern interiors, designer touches, and very competitive prices. Price: ~$70–$140/night. (motel-one.com)
• Generator Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg/Friedrichshain) — design-focused hostel/hotel hybrid with stylish common areas and private rooms.

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

• CitizenM (Amstel, etc.) — compact, tech-forward rooms with modern design and social lobbies; good value if you want contemporary style on a budget.
• Generator Amsterdam — design-forward, budget-friendly private rooms and dorms near the city center.

Tokyo (Japan)

• Khaosan/Guesthouse chain or Book and Bed (cabins/bookshop hostel) — capsule/Pod and hostel/hybrid concepts with strong design identities and excellent value for central locations.
• Nine Hours (capsule hotels) — minimalist, futuristic capsule design; excellent for short stays on a budget.

Bangkok (Thailand)

• Lub d (Sukhumvit / Siam) — design-led hostel/hotel hybrid with modern interiors and social spaces; affordable private rooms and dorms.
• The Yard Hostel (Aree) — eco-minded, design-focused guesthouse with stylish, relaxed vibe.

Sydney (Australia)

• The Pod Sydney (CBD) — capsule/Pod concept with clean, modern minimalist design and communal spaces; budget-friendly for a very central location. Price: commonly under AUD 100–160 for pods, private rooms a bit higher. (concerthotels.com)

San Francisco (USA)

• The Mosser (Downtown/Yerba Buena) — historic building reimagined with artful, compact rooms and modern design touches; often a good-value central option. Price: ~$120–$220/night. (themosser.com)
• HI San Francisco Downtown / boutique hostels — for very budget stays with stylish common spaces.

Quick booking tips

• Check dates and compare rates on the hotel’s official site plus 2–3 booking platforms (prices and free‑cancellation terms can differ widely).
• Weekday vs weekend pricing can flip by city — sometimes midweek is cheaper (business markets) and sometimes weekends drop (leisure markets).
• If you want the best “design” experience on a tight budget, prioritize smaller boutique hotels, design‑oriented hostel/hotel hybrids (Generator, Lub d, Khaosan), and budget design chains (Motel One, CitizenM, Pod hotels).

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to a single city and give 6–8 options with links and typical nightly rates for your travel dates, or
• Build a short list focused on a particular style (Scandi minimal, boutique-chic, capsule/Pod, or artistic/bohemian).