Short Description:
The Kokuyo Design Award is launching the competition for 2026, themed: Hamon – Design that Resonates.
Kokuyo Design Award is an international competition for product design that aims to co-create with talented designers and support their activities.
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.”
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,” the organizers will select up to 10 outstanding entries with appealing ideas and viewpoints as proposals that make us “feel that their futures will be exciting.” Kokuyo hopes this will encourage the young generation, who will lead the next age, to challenge themselves.
Submissions must be the original work of the entrant. Submissions cannot have been made public (in Japan or overseas) before or concurrent to this contest.
Eligibility:
Open Worldwide
Program Benefits or Awards:
The best design will be awarded with 2,000,000 Japanese yen — about $14,000. Three Merit awards of 500,000 Japanese yen each, will also be selected, along with up to 10 winners for the New Generation Award — awarded with 30,000 Japanese yen each.
Entry Fee: none
Location: Japan
Deadline: 8 October 2025
Website link:
https://www.kokuyo.com/en/award/news/2025/0708.html
