This year’s theme targets designs for “stationery, furniture and all items generally used in working, learning and living scenes”. With the pandemic making latent issues in society more manifest, the theme is about resetting the knowledge and senses we’ve never questioned before and the experiences we’ve accumulated up to now, and exploring what designs can be created by imagining ideal futures for each of us.
The best design will be awarded with 2,000,000 Japanese yen — about $18,000. Three Merit awards of 500,000 Japanese yen each, will also be announced and special prizes may as well be awarded.
Details about the theme for 2022 are available on the official website.
The world is about to undergo a drastic change. Will it be economics, science, information, or the power of creativity that will topple the old framework? Creating a new norm and determining the shape of the future in a place far away from human senses is too restrictive.
Design can defy, design can criticize, design can show diversity, and even destroy knowledge and ideals.
Let’s rebuild the relationship between objects and design by focusing once again on the truth that no one has ever doubted. When society, ideas, people and lifestyles are in turmoil, there are no absolutes. The grand design lies beyond “Unlearning”.
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.
Any stationery, furniture or tool used in working, learning and living scenes is eligible for submission.
Submissions will be evaluated based on these three evaluation criteria:
- The design’s interpretation of the theme
- The design’s level of completion
- The design’s potential to become a product
Last year, the competition received a total of 1,401 entries from designers from all parts of the world.
No Entry Fee!
It’s free to enter.