NEWS
KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2026 Finalists Announced!
The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2026 accepted designs based on the theme of "HAMON —Design that Resonates" between July 25 and October 8, 2025. During that time, we received 1,344 entries (785 from within Japan and 559 from overseas).
In the initial round, each judge member had reviewed all the entries in advance and selected a total of 117 nominated works. In the second round of judging, there was a vigorous discussion on the selected entries from the first round, in line with the judging criteria set out in the application guidelines.
This resulted in the decision of the 10 finalists that will continue on to the Final Judging. The Final Judging will be held on March 14, 2026, along with the Award Ceremony, where the Grand Prix and Merit Award winners will be decided.
The Final Judging and Award Ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube. We'll release the link for the streaming at a later date.
〈 Finalist 〉
| Application Number | Title | Designer Name |
|---|---|---|
| KDA2026-0171PBB-220670 | gram | Takashi Higashide |
| KDA2026-0190WEE-490186 | red and white packing paper | Tasuku Denno |
| KDA2026-0432ADD-010262 | Notebooks Identified by Edges | Yuji Tsukamoto |
| KDA2026-0499AAA-010987 | Before Note | Hiroki Kannari |
| KDA2026-0539GBY-070628 | Gradience Diary | Mizuki Igarashi Rara Takizawa |
| KDA2026-0710DUU-490787 | Edge Index | Renki Torigoe |
| KDA2026-1019ZAA-221185 | AWAI | Ryoichi Nakamura |
| KDA2026-1063HMM-010897 | OVERLAP | Yohei Oki |
| KDA2026-1184KWZ-491168 | KASUMIORI | Yoshihiro Matsumura |
| KDA2026-1386HVV-011638 | a glimmer of inspiration | Nao Momoishi |
〈 Messages from the Judges 〉
Shogo Kishino (Representative of 6D-K / Art Director and Graphic Designer)
There were many high-quality ideas, and I judged them carefully while considering their
relations to the theme and the direction of the finished products.
It was a theme that was likely to reflect the creators' thoughts, and the variety of
expressions was impressive.
In the final judging, I hope the ideas will crystallize into "objects" with their
essence clearly revealed through the prototypes.
Nao Tamura (Designer)
In the second round of judging, works that sincerely explored insights born from the creators' own experiences left a strong impression. On the other hand, I felt it was also a theme that examined the "path of ripples" and how to convey the awareness gained to others and spread it throughout society. The judging focused on whether the ideas resonated with others and how deeply the ideas were taken as personal. I hope that the final judging will show a clearer picture of the core of the ideas and their connections to society.
Kunihiko Morinaga (ANREALAGE / Designer)
There were many fresh proposals that challenged how we see everyday life, and I felt the
potential for their individual perspectives to spread throughout society.
The judging focused on how the participants perceive the world and the power of their
unique perspectives to influence others.
Their deep thinking that naturally connects with the theme shines through, and in the
final judging, I hope to see greater precision in conveying their insights more clearly.
Teruhiro Yanagihara (TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA STUDIO. CO LTD. / Creative Director and Designer)
This year's judging process gathered diverse approaches to the theme, giving the judging
a sense of freedom and breadth.
The evaluation criteria focused on consistency with the theme, the boldness of ideas,
and the aesthetic appeal of the products.
I hope the appeal of the presentation sheets will be further deepened through prototypes
and bear fruit as finished products.
Satoshi Yoshiizumi (Principal of TAKT PROJECT Inc. / Designer)
In the second round of judging, proposals with appeal that couldn't be fully grasped from
the presentation sheets alone were selected, raising high expectations for the mockups
in the final round. What impressed me was the way the creators reflected their views of
the world, and the interpretations they offered that went beyond the mere ideas of
single products.
In the final judging, I look forward to seeing expressions that go beyond the
presentation sheets and reveal the essence of the works.
Hidekuni Kuroda (KOKUYO Co., Ltd. / Representative Corporate Officer and President)
The second round of judging was a time filled with new discoveries, as diverse perspectives interacted and combined. I judged the works while keeping the values we cherish as KOKUYO and our message to society in mind. As for the theme "HAMON," I felt it increasingly questioned how thoughts and worldviews spread throughout society. I hope that the finalists will fully express their proposals in the final judging.