Kokuyo Design Award

KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD is an international competition for product design that aims to co-create with talented designers and support their activities.

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, Kokuyo 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.

ELIGIBLE ENTRIES

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

ELIGIBILITY

The competition accepts entries from any corporation, individual, or group that fulfills all the following requirements, regardless of their age, sex, occupation, or nationality.

1. Persons who are able to give a presentation at the final judging (March 22, 2025).

* The contest organizer will pay expenses incurred by participants for travel and lodging (up to two individuals for group entries).

2. Persons who consent to these Rules.

* In cases when an entrant is a minor, the consent of their parent or other statutory agent is required.

The best design will be awarded with 2,000,000 Japanese yen — about $12,800. Three Merit awards of 500,000 Japanese yen each, will also be announced and special prizes may as well be awarded. Up to 10 winners will also be announced for the New Generation Award and will each be awarded with 30,000 Japanese yen.

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.”