JUDGES

The Japanese mindset of “ma” (space/interval), the thoughtfulness of anticipating the other person’s needs, and the consideration shown toward others—these are precisely what I mean by “dialogue.” I’m hoping for products that are born out of relationships with others—not just casual conversations or dialogues. When applying, it’s not just new ideas that matter. Sometimes, the starting point for design is a universal insight that lingers in the back of our minds—whether it is a question we have been pondering in our daily lives, a moment that suddenly touches our hearts, or a sense of unease that only we seem to feel. I look forward to receiving proposals that reflect the passion you inherently possess.

The interaction between yourself and the object—how you and the object respond to each other. The fundamental aspect of the design is precisely what makes this theme so interesting. Try not to get too caught up in your own ideas; instead, try to view the object from a “plural” perspective—that is, from the viewpoints of the people and environment around you. In the judging, we will focus on whether the creators have truly put their hearts and souls into the proposals. A unique strength that comes from truly believing in something. We hope to encounter vivid ideas that will stir our hearts.

I believe that “dialogue” refers not only to the exchange of words, but also to the relationships that arise between people and objects, or between people and their environment. That’s why there is no need to force yourself to expand on a broad theme. Try thinking about the familiar feelings and unease in everyday life that you might feel like talking to your family or friends about. I’m looking forward to seeing a genuine piece of work that reveals your thought process—one where you relax and naturally ask the person next to you, “What do you think?”

This theme deeply reflects the invisible exchanges that flow between people and between people and things. First, try asking questions about your everyday routine. I hope for proposals that are not something where you get an immediate “yes” or “no” answer, but rather ones that encourage a long-term dialogue between the user and the object. Taking the first step and posing questions through one’s work is, in itself, the beginning of a “dialogue.” I look forward to seeing your determined “challenges.”

I believe it is important to have “white space”—not to convey the sender’s intentions through the object itself, but to create meaning on the part of the recipient. Instead of a one-way “chatty design,” please consider creating designs that leave you with a sense of lingering satisfaction, as if your own world is opening up a little after you have interacted with them. You do not need to aim for the kind of clarity that competitions require. I believe that things that are born from deeply feeling and connecting with the things around us can also be understood by the person who receives them. I look forward to encountering works that transform such subjectivity into objectivity.