KOKUYO and VUILD to co-host a new International Design Competition「Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD」
Theme:「Personal and Public」, and invites innovative ideas from around the world, and the Grand Prize-winning design will be displayed at the European Cultural Centre - Palazzo Morra and at THE CAMPUS.
KOKUYO Co., Ltd.(HQ: Osaka / CEO: Hidekuni Kuroda) will host an International Design Competition「Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD」crossing the boundaries of architecture and furniture through digital fabrication.
Entry opens 1st June 2025 (Sun) through to 31st July 2025 (Thu).
Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD
1.Overview
In July 2022, KOKUYO entered a capital and business alliance with VUILD, inc. (HQ: Kawasaki, CEO: Koki Akiyoshi). Since then, KOKUYO has adopted VUILD's digital wood fabrication machine "ShopBot" and has been offering services that utilize digital fabrication technology referred to hereafter as "DigiFab technology" to create original interior spaces, artworks, and furniture primarily using wood materials. These creations have been produced for a wide range of clients and have been implemented in various settings, including office environments.
(*DigiFab technology: The production of physical objects by digital data.)
The「Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD」co-hosted by KOKUYO and VUILD, inc. aims to enhance brand recognition for both companies and to further develop and promote digital fabrication (DigiFab) technology. The competition welcomes submissions from architects, creative practitioners, and students from Japan and around the world, seeking ideas that explore the theme「Personal and Public」.
In addition, during the period from 10th May ~ 23rd November 2025, VUILD, inc. will participate as an invited exhibitor at the European Cultural Centre - Palazzo Mora, an international exhibition of contemporary architecture held in Venice, Italy. KOKUYO will participate in collaboration with VUILD, inc. as a co-sponsor.
The Grand Prize-winning design, selected through a rigorous screening process, will be fabricated during the exhibition period, and displayed both at the European Cultural Centre - Palazzo Mora and at KOKUYO's Tokyo office, THE CAMPUS.
Further, KOKUYO and VUILD, inc. will announce the competition during the Venice Biennale 2025 Exhibition and engage in dialogue with architects and creative practitioners from around the world who attend the event. Through these interactions, the aim is to envision new possibilities for the future through design, and accelerate the commercialization of furniture and interior installations using digital fabrication technology, and contribute to realizing KOKUYO's purpose:「Presenting a tomorrow you can't wait for」.
2.「Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD」Applications guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
The application form will open from the link below from 1st June 2025.
Digi Fab Award 2025 Application form：https://kokuyo.jp/dfa2025
3.Application Guidelines Overview (Excerpt)
(1) Theme:「Personal and Public」
The things we see. The warmth of sunlight, the chill of wind we feel. The beings we share space with. The objects we encounter.
The self is not fixed, but continuously woven through these shifting entanglements.
Personal is where we can fully inhabit and savor that entangled self.
Public is where new responses and relationships emerge, woven with others.
What kind of design can give form to a space that allows one to be alone, while holding the possibility of connection?
We invite proposals that explore the in-between where the Personal and the Public come into being together.
(2) Eligible Entries
Designs intended for installation in public spaces that bridge the realms of architecture and furniture.
We seek design proposals that shape spaces like architecture and attend to human gestures and sensations like furniture.
(3) Awards
・Grand Prize (1 Award): The awarded design will be fabricated and displayed at the European Cultural Centre - Palazzo Mora and at KOKUYO's Tokyo office, THE CAMPUS.
・Excellence Award: (2 Awards)
・Honorable Mention: (5 Awards)
※The fabricated product to be exhibited at the European Cultural Centre - Palazzo Mora are expected to be exhibited as panels, partial mock-ups, or as scaled models.
※The final product will be fabricated by KOKUYO + VUILD based on the submitted data. The design may be adjusted as necessary to ensure feasibility for production.
※Fabrication may also be produced for design entries other than the Grand Prize award.
(4) Judging Points
・Clarity of concept
・Relevance to the theme
・Feasibility to execute and productize
・Adopts creative originality
(5) Judges
Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO × VUILD Office
(6) Eligibility
Open to individuals, groups, regardless of age, gender, occupation, or nationality. Entrants must agree to the competition's terms and conditions.
※Award recipients may be required to enter into a separate agreement with KOKUYO and/or VUILD regarding the intellectual property rights related to the submitted proposal, prior to its production and implementation.
※Submissions must be original and unpublished work both in Japan and abroad, and participants may submit an unlimited number of entries.
(7) Entry Fee
Free
(8) Regulations
・Material: Wood only.
・Fabrication method: 3-axis CNC router. Proposals must reflect shapes and structures appropriate by this method[*1].
・Size and Structure: The total size must fit within a space of W5000 D5000 H2000mm, and the structure must be self-supporting.[*2] [*3].
・Intended usage: The design must be both durable and functional, suitable for use in a public space.
*1. The maximum size of each wooden sheet must be within W1200×L2400 t100mm.
*2. Proposals combining multiple components are allowed, provided final product fits within the specified space.
*3. Proposals requiring use of heavy machinery for assembly may be rejected.
(9) Submission
・Language: In English or Japanese
・File Format: PDF, Below 10MB
・Output Size: A2 landscape (594mm × 420mm) x1pc
・Required Contents: Title, Concept, Plan view/Cross section/Elevational
drawing[*4], CG renderings, and any other details needed to explain the design intent.
*4. Drawings must include scale and dimensions.
(10) Schedule
・Entry Opens: 1st June 2025 (Sun)・Submission Deadline: 31st July 2025, Time 23:59 JST (Japan Standard Time)
・Award Announcement: Scheduled for Oct 2025 (Date To Be Advised)
・Installation period: Oct 2025～23rd Nov 2025 (Sun) (European Cultural Centre -Palazzo Mora) After Nov 2025 (THE CAMPUS)
※The results will be announced via KOKUYO official website and social media channels.
※The winners will be contacted in advance and may be requested to provide presentation materials/data for the exhibition.
(11) Application Method
Application via below entry form.
https://kokuyo.jp/dfa2025
(12) Organizers
KOKUYO Co., Ltd / VUILD, inc.
(13) Enquiries
dfa_office@kokuyo.com
※Enquiries by telephone, fax, or through KOKUYO Customer Service will not be accepted.
※To ensure fairness, any questions regarding the application guidelines will not be accepted.
Any information relating to the screening process or the selection results after submission will not be answered.
【Reference】KOKUYO×VUILD Case Study
KOKUYO renovated its head office building in Tokyo and opened THE CAMPUS in February 2021 under the concept "open to the public". In October 2022, digital fabrication studio "(0,0,0) studio genten", was launched within THE CAMPUS. Since then, the studio has been involved in the creation of interior spaces, furniture, and art, all developed using digital fabrication.
KOKUYO's "open to the public" office, THE CAMPUS
The office courtyard, furnished with digitally fabricated public furniture, hosting public events
(0,0,0) studio genten, the digital fabrication studio established within THE CAMPUS
Artwork created using digital fabrication techniques
KOKUYO's satellite office n.5, where the spatial design is composed of digitally fabricated furniture
KOKUYO×VUILD exhibition booth at Orgatec Tokyo 2023, featuring digital fabrication under the concept "Let's make it together."【Reference Links】
・KOKUYO official website: https://www.kokuyo.co.jp
・VUILD official website: https://vuild.co.jp/
・KOKUYO THE CAMPUS official website: https://the-campus.net/about/
※The information contained herein is current as of the date of publication. The information is subject to change without notice. Please note that the information is subject to change without prior notice.
