KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2023

The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD is an international product design competition that’s all about imagining and creating the future together. It gathers proposals from all around the world, and turns outstanding entries into commercial products. 

The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2023 will be the 20th competition, and this time, we’ll be calling for works based on the theme “embrace.” 

This word carries meanings like “inclusion” and “hugging.” In that same vein, we are looking for product design proposals that make people feel cheerful and positive by accepting and acknowledging the differences between people and the challenges society is facing.

THEME: embrace

ELIGIBLE ENTRIES   
Any stationery, furniture or tool used in working, learning and living scenes

ELIGIBILITY 

Corporations organizations, individuals, and groups are all welcome, regardless of age, sex, professional background, or nationality. 

Only designs that have never before been shown publicly (in Japan or other countries) are eligible for entry. 

Entrants must be able to give a presentation at the final judging that’s scheduled for March 18, 2023.

PRIZES

• Grand Prix (one from all entries)  ¥2,000,000 (about $15,000)
• Merit Award (three from all entries)  ¥500,000 (about  $3,800) per winner
• YOKOKU Award (up to twenty winners)  ¥30,000 (about $230) per winner*

*The YOKOKU Award is a special award commemorating the 20th anniversary of the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD. It will be awarded to selected student entrants as a way to support their future work.

SCHEDULE

• Registration & Submission: July 29 to 12:00 (noon) JST on October 11, 2022
• First Round of Judging: Late November 2022

  Judgement based on the presentation sheet.

• Notification of First Round Results: Mid December 2022
• Final Judging and Ceremony (Announcement of the Winners): March 18, 2023 (tentative) (Held in Tokyo)

  Judgement based on a presentation and model (either online or in-person).

More: kokuyo.com/en/award/