NEWS
The theme for the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 has been decided. Entries will be accepted from July 26 (Fri.).
The theme for the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 is “prototype.”
In product design, the word “prototype” is generally used to mean a pre-finished product or a sample before completion, but for this project, we saw it as “an original idea that has the potential to lead to the next step.” A well-thought-out prototype will inspire others and serve as a catalyst for the future. The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 is looking for product designs that will be the starting point for the future.
“Any stationery, furniture or tool used in working, learning and living scenes” is eligible to be entered. The judges will focus on the following points: “The idea’s clarity,” “The idea highlights social issues,” and “The design’s potential to become a product.”
In addition, the “NEW GENERATION Award” will be given just as last year. The NEW GENERATION Award encourages unique ideas and challenges that are not bound by existing concepts, and is open only to student applicants with the expectation of future success. Associating with KOKUYO’s purpose, “Bringing you a tomorrow you can’t wait for,” we will select up to 10 outstanding entries with appealing ideas and viewpoints as proposals that make us “feel that their futures will be exciting.” We hope this will encourage the young generation who will lead the next age to challenge themselves.
Note: The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 entry guidelines will be posted on the website on July 26 (Fri.). Please note that all entry guidelines currently listed on the entry guidelines page and in some other areas are from last year.
Main application guidelines for KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025
1. Theme: prototype
Groundbreaking design often begins with a prototype.
Prototyping is to design an original idea into a form that has the potential to lead to the next step.
The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 seeks designs pointing the way to the future and serving as a catalyst.
Your design will inspire others and become a vector for the future.
We look forward to seeing your “prototype” not bound by existing thinking or limited to mockups or ideas.
2. Eligible Entries
Any stationery, furniture or tool used in working, learning and living scenes
3. Registration & Submission
July 26 (Fri) – October 9 (Wed), 2024
4. Judges
Shogo Kishino
(Representative of 6D-K / Art Director and Graphic Designer)
Tsuyoshi Tane
(Founder of Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects / Architect)
Nao Tamura
(Designer)
Teruhiro Yanagihara
(TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA STUDIO. CO LTD. / Creative Director and Designer)
Satoshi Yoshiizumi
(Founder of TAKT PROJECT Inc. / Designer)
Hidekuni Kuroda
(Representative Corporate Officer and President of KOKUYO Co., Ltd.)
5. Prizes
| Grand Prix (one winner) |
¥2,000,000 (about $12,800) |
|---|---|
| Merit Award (three winners) |
¥500,000 (about $3,200) per winner |
| New Generation Award (Max ten winners) |
¥30,000 (about $200) per winner |
*Prize money will be paid net of withholding tax, surtax for reconstruction funding, and other applicable deductions.
*The prize money will be paid in Japanese yen.
*Not all prizes may be awarded for all categories if there is no winner selected.
6. Judging Points
・The idea’s clarity
・The idea highlights social issues
・The design’s potential to become a product
7. Announcement of the Winners
March 22 (Sat), 2025 (tentative)
8. KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 information session for applicants
An online information session will be held on Wednesday, July 31 at 7:00 p.m. with last year’s Grand Prix winners as guests. Only available in Japanese.
In addition, a video of the information session will be available (in Japanese and English) on the official YouTube channel from mid-August 2024.
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