The Winners of the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 Have Been Chosen

Mar 21, 2025 | Award, News

Home > News & Insights > The Winners of the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 Have Been Chosen

The theme for the competition was "prototype," and out of 1,448 entries from Japan and overseas,Toshiyuki Kawada's "NEWRON" was chosen to receive the Grand Prix.

The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD design award is an international product design competition held by KOKUYO Co., Ltd. (head office: Osaka City, president: Hidekuni Kuroda) with the aim of supporting talented designers and co-creating with them. Holding its final judging today, the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 chose one winner for the Grand Prix and three for Merit Awards.

The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2025 marked the 22nd outing for the competition, and its theme was "prototype." In the world of product design, this word is generally used to mean a pre-completion product or sample. This time however, it was interpreted as "an original idea that has the potential to lead to the next step."

Entries were accepted from July 26 to October 9, 2024, and a total of 1,448 were received from 61 countries and regions (716 from Japan and 732 from overseas).

In the final judging, the judges saw presentations and models for the nine entries that had made it through the second round of judging and patent search last November. They then had a final deliberation session to decide on the award-winners.

1．Details on Winning Entries

Grand Prix (1 design)

	Design name：NEWRON General name：Pen Design overview：Many nerves are concentrated in the human fingertips, and brain function is activated by stimulating the fingertips. "NEWRON" is a pen with variously shaped protrusions on its grip section. It is a "pen for generating ideas" that supports creative activities by stimulating brain activity from the fingertips while "drawing" at the same time. Award winner/Group name：Toshiyuki Kawada

Design name：NEWRON

General name：Pen

Design overview：Many nerves are concentrated in the human fingertips, and brain function is activated by stimulating the fingertips. "NEWRON" is a pen with variously shaped protrusions on its grip section. It is a "pen for generating ideas" that supports creative activities by stimulating brain activity from the fingertips while "drawing" at the same time.

Award winner/Group name：Toshiyuki Kawada

Merit Award (3 designs)

	Design name：spinning General name：Bookmark Design overview：Spin, a string attached to a book. A thin little string that you play with and twirl while reading a book, and before you know it end becomes frayed.By adding a core material to the Spin, we open up the possibility for it to become "something" else, something a little freer. It could be a sticky note that crosses the page.It could be a gift for the next reader. It could be the shape of the mind when you read it. It could be a creation independent from the book. It could be something that does not yet have a name.This is how such small possibilities exist. Award winner/Group name：Haruki Ichijo

Design name：spinning

General name：Bookmark

Design overview：Spin, a string attached to a book. A thin little string that you play with and twirl while reading a book, and before you know it end becomes frayed.By adding a core material to the Spin, we open up the possibility for it to become "something" else, something a little freer. It could be a sticky note that crosses the page.It could be a gift for the next reader.

It could be the shape of the mind when you read it. It could be a creation independent from the book. It could be something that does not yet have a name.This is how such small possibilities exist.

Award winner/Group name：Haruki Ichijo

	Design name：KAKONET General name：Magnet Design overview：The "" emphasizes the word and leaves a strong impression on our minds. Words and lines enclosed in "" in books and movies sometimes move us to tears, make us smile, give us happiness and courage, and strongly affect our emotions. When we hold something in place with a magnet, we may also be holding something inside our minds that we don't want to forget, something we are aware of, or a thought that we don't want to forget. KAKONET is a magnet to further visualize, strongly impress, and hold your inner thoughts, consciousness, and memories through "". Award winner/Group name：Yoshihiro Matsumura

Design name：KAKONET

General name：Magnet

Design overview：The "" emphasizes the word and leaves a strong impression on our minds. Words and lines enclosed in "" in books and movies sometimes move us to tears, make us smile, give us happiness and courage, and strongly affect our emotions. When we hold something in place with a magnet, we may also be holding something inside our minds that we don't want to forget, something we are aware of, or a thought that we don't want to forget. KAKONET is a magnet to further visualize, strongly impress, and hold your inner thoughts, consciousness, and memories through "".

Award winner/Group name：Yoshihiro Matsumura

	Design name：Secret General name：Diary Design overview：What is a diary? I think the best answer is the "secret words" hidden in our hearts. By shrinking the horizontal lines of the diary toward the center, it feels as if the "secret words" are hidden deep within it. Award winner/Group name：weiweichen (Gaowei Liu, Cheng Chen) Note: The design titles, general item names, design overviews, and winner/group names are as written on the entry sheets.

Design name：Secret

General name：Diary

Design overview：What is a diary? I think the best answer is the "secret words" hidden in our hearts. By shrinking the horizontal lines of the diary toward the center, it feels as if the "secret words" are hidden deep within it.

Award winner/Group name：weiweichen (Gaowei Liu, Cheng Chen)

Note: The design titles, general item names, design overviews, and winner/group names are as written on the entry sheets.

2．Details on Trophies and Certificates of Commendation

The trophies abstractly express the "vector into the future" indicated by the award-winning works, in response to this year's theme "prototype." The multiple arrows expressed in the key visual have been refined through trial and error into a single direction and are pointing powerfully to the next future. The complex patterns on the surface, which are created by colored slurry, represent the creative process that results from the trial and error of ideas. In addition, the key visual "arrow" was used on the award certificates presented to the finalists, and chipboard was used to give a sense of materiality.

3．About the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD

"The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD is one of the most renowned and historied product design competitions in Japan. It was established by KOKUYO back in 2002, and this year's competition marks its 21st outing.

Besides setting themes that mirror the times then selecting the most outstanding product designs among all those entered in response, we have also been commercializing the winning designs through co-creation between the award winners themselves and KOKUYO's product developers. By taking designs that breathe new life into tools that are a familiar part of our lives at home and at work and offering them to the world as soundly developed products, we aim to give their designers a boost for their future activities, and at the same time, create exciting work and lifestyle ideas for tomorrow."

4．Profiles of KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2024 Judges

	Shogo Kishino Representative of 6D-K / Art Director and Graphic Designer Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. Shogo Kishino established the graphic design studio 6D in 2007.He mainly works on the visual identity for companies and products, as well as logos, package designs, and sign design for a wide range of spaces.His major awards include the D&AD award, the Cannes Award, the One Show Award, the Design for Asia Award, the ADC Award, the JAGDA Award, the Japan Package Design Award, the Sign Design Award, and many other awards both in Japan and abroad.

Shogo Kishino

Representative of 6D-K / Art Director and Graphic Designer

Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. Shogo Kishino established the graphic design studio 6D in 2007.He mainly works on the visual identity for companies and products, as well as logos, package designs, and sign design for a wide range of spaces.His major awards include the D&AD award, the Cannes Award, the One Show Award, the Design for Asia Award, the ADC Award, the JAGDA Award, the Japan Package Design Award, the Sign Design Award, and many other awards both in Japan and abroad.

	Tsuyoshi Tane Founder of Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects / Architect Tsuyoshi Tane is an architect. Born in Tokyo in 1979, he established ATTA - Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects, and is now based in Paris, France. Based on the concept of "Archaeology of the Future," which creates architecture from the memory of a place, he currently has a number of projects underway around the world, mainly in Europe and Japan.His major works include the Estonian National Museum, the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, the Al Thani Collection Foundation's museum, the Vitra Garden House, and the Imperial Hotel's new main building (scheduled to be completed in 2036).His numerous awards include the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France, the Rookie Award of the French Academy of Architecture, the Grand Prix of the Cultural Endowment Prize of Estonia, and the 67th Art Encouragement Prize for Rookies from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He is the author of "TSUYOSHI TANE Archaeology of the Future" (TOTO Publishing).

Tsuyoshi Tane

Founder of Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects / Architect

Tsuyoshi Tane is an architect. Born in Tokyo in 1979, he established ATTA - Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects, and is now based in Paris, France. Based on the concept of "Archaeology of the Future," which creates architecture from the memory of a place, he currently has a number of projects underway around the world, mainly in Europe and Japan.His major works include the Estonian National Museum, the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, the Al Thani Collection Foundation's museum, the Vitra Garden House, and the Imperial Hotel's new main building (scheduled to be completed in 2036).His numerous awards include the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France, the Rookie Award of the French Academy of Architecture, the Grand Prix of the Cultural Endowment Prize of Estonia, and the 67th Art Encouragement Prize for Rookies from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He is the author of "TSUYOSHI TANE Archaeology of the Future" (TOTO Publishing).

	Nao Tamura Designer Nao Tamura is a designer. After studying communication design at Parsons School of Design, she worked for Smart Design (U.S.), which specializes in industrial design, and she became independent. Currently based in New York, she is active in a wide range of activities from products to installation and space design. Her works have been exhibited in a wide range of venues, from the Palais De Tokyo museum in Paris to the Salone del Mobile.Milano in Milan, Italy. She has won numerous international awards.

Nao Tamura

Designer

Nao Tamura is a designer. After studying communication design at Parsons School of Design, she worked for Smart Design (U.S.), which specializes in industrial design, and she became independent. Currently based in New York, she is active in a wide range of activities from products to installation and space design. Her works have been exhibited in a wide range of venues, from the Palais De Tokyo museum in Paris to the Salone del Mobile.Milano in Milan, Italy. She has won numerous international awards.

	Teruhiro Yanagihara TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA STUDIO.CO LTD. Creative Director and Designer Teruhiro Yanagihara has a studio and gallery space "VAGUE" in Kobe and Arles, France. He also works on projects that transcend national and genre boundaries, based in Japan, France, the Netherlands, the UK, and Taiwan. He offers comprehensive proposals in interior design, product design, and creative direction.

Teruhiro Yanagihara

TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA STUDIO.CO LTD.

Creative Director and Designer

Teruhiro Yanagihara has a studio and gallery space "VAGUE" in Kobe and Arles, France. He also works on projects that transcend national and genre boundaries, based in Japan, France, the Netherlands, the UK, and Taiwan. He offers comprehensive proposals in interior design, product design, and creative direction.

	Satoshi Yoshiizumi Principal of TAKT PROJECT Inc. / Designer Satoshi Yoshiizumi conducts experimental independent research projects on "creating different possibilities" through design, and presents and exhibits work as a guest at museums and exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. He rolls out a wide variety of projects with his clients based on the results.His major awards include Dezeen Awards Emerging Designers of the year 2019 (UK), Design Miami/ Basel Swarovski Designers of the Future Award 2017 (Switzerland), FRAME Awards (Netherlands), if Design Award Gold (Germany), Red Dot Design Award (Germany), German Design Award (Germany), and the 25th Kuwasawa Award. Three of his works are featured in the collection of the M+ Museum in Hong Kong. He is also the exhibition director of the 21_21Design Sight special exhibition "Material, or". In 2023, he served as the exhibition director for the 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition "Material, or."

Satoshi Yoshiizumi

Principal of TAKT PROJECT Inc. / Designer

Satoshi Yoshiizumi conducts experimental independent research projects on "creating different possibilities" through design, and presents and exhibits work as a guest at museums and exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. He rolls out a wide variety of projects with his clients based on the results.His major awards include Dezeen Awards Emerging Designers of the year 2019 (UK), Design Miami/ Basel Swarovski Designers of the Future Award 2017 (Switzerland), FRAME Awards (Netherlands), if Design Award Gold (Germany), Red Dot Design Award (Germany), German Design Award (Germany), and the 25th Kuwasawa Award. Three of his works are featured in the collection of the M+ Museum in Hong Kong. He is also the exhibition director of the 21_21Design Sight special exhibition "Material, or". In 2023, he served as the exhibition director for the 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition "Material, or."

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