KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2026

The KOKUYO Design Award 2026 is one of the most anticipated international competitions in product design, offering a platform for designers across the globe to share groundbreaking ideas that address contemporary living, learning, and working needs. Organized annually, the award has established itself as a stage where innovation meets practicality, shaping the future of stationery, furniture, and everyday tools.

The theme for the 2026 edition is “HAMON — Design that Resonates”, which emphasizes the ripple effect of design ideas. Rooted in personal experiences, these designs aim to extend beyond individual perspectives and spark resonance within wider society. The challenge lies in creating products that are not just functional but transformative—designs that reflect individual realities while addressing broader social issues.

A distinctive element of this year’s award is the NEW GENERATION AWARD, reserved for student applicants. By fostering new perspectives and encouraging bold experimentation, this category recognizes emerging designers who dare to think beyond traditional frameworks. With substantial prizes, a distinguished jury, and an emphasis on originality, the KOKUYO Design Award 2026 continues to highlight design as a cultural force, capable of shaping both society and the way we live.

Theme: HAMON — Design that Resonates

The concept of HAMON refers to ripples created when an idea, rooted in an individual’s unique lived experience, spreads outward into society. Designers are invited to explore how personal insights can evolve into universally relevant standards. The expectation is not only functional design but also proposals that tackle pressing social issues, offering visions for future living and working.

Eligible Entries

• Stationery, furniture, or tools designed for learning, working, or daily life.
• Open to both professionals and students worldwide.

Registration and Submission

• Period: July 25, 2025 (Friday) – October 8, 2025 (Wednesday).
• Submission Method: Online registration and digital submission of presentation sheets.

Jury Members

• Shogo Kishino — Art Director & Graphic Designer (6D-K)
• Nao Tamura — Designer
• Kunihiko Morinaga — Designer, ANREALAGE
• Teruhiro Yanagihara — Designer, TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA STUDIO
• Satoshi Yoshiizumi — Designer, Founder of TAKT PROJECT Inc.
• Hidekuni Kuroda — President, KOKUYO Co., Ltd.

Judging Criteria

• Originality: born from a unique perspective.
• Engagement: reflection on social issues.
• Feasibility: potential for commercialization as a product.

Entry Fees

Awards

Timeline

Architectural Analysis

While the KOKUYO Design Award 2026 is centered on product design, its theme HAMON can be examined through architectural logic. At its core, HAMON asks designers to consider the ripple of influence, much like how architecture transforms its surroundings. Just as buildings use materiality, spatial rhythm, and contextual integration to resonate with communities, product design here is positioned as a micro-scale architecture for everyday life.

The materials and forms proposed by participants will likely follow principles seen in architecture: clarity in structure, sustainability in material use, and adaptability in context. A chair, pen, or desk lamp can embody the same design reasoning as a pavilion or public plaza, transmitting personal experience into a universal framework. The award thus becomes a platform where product design functions as an extension of architectural practice, reminding us that design operates across scales but shares a unifying logic—resonance with human needs.

Project Importance

The KOKUYO Design Award 2026 is more than a competition; it is a laboratory for the future of design thinking. For architects and designers, it demonstrates how personal perspectives can translate into broader cultural standards, reaffirming the idea that innovation begins with the individual. The award’s emphasis on social engagement echoes architecture’s responsibility to address pressing issues like sustainability, accessibility, and cultural continuity.

For students, the NEW GENERATION AWARD signals the importance of fresh voices in shaping future typologies. It reinforces that experimentation, when supported by institutional frameworks, has the potential to redefine design landscapes. Most importantly, the theme HAMON highlights a central lesson: design does not exist in isolation. Instead, it creates ripples that interact with society, shaping behavior, values, and aspirations. This is a critical reminder for contemporary designers—whether working on buildings, tools, or urban systems—that resonance and impact are essential measures of success.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The KOKUYO Design Award 2026 stands out for its thematic focus on HAMON, a concept rooted in resonance and ripple effects. The competition’s framework mirrors spatial logics often seen in architecture: layering of context, materiality, and user interaction. Yet one might question whether an emphasis on resonance risks encouraging abstract ideas over functional outcomes, raising the challenge of balancing emotional depth with usability. This tension, however, may be precisely what makes the award compelling—designers must prove that poetic intent can align with practical application. Ultimately, the award enriches design culture by framing products as catalysts for societal transformation.

Conclusion

The KOKUYO Design Award 2026 represents a unique convergence of design innovation, cultural reflection, and societal responsibility. Its theme, HAMON — Design that Resonates, highlights the importance of design as both a personal and collective act, reminding us that even the smallest idea can set off waves of change.

Through the combination of professional categories and the NEW GENERATION AWARD, the competition encourages a dialogue between experienced designers and fresh voices, ensuring a multi-generational exploration of design’s potential. The distinguished jury ensures credibility, while the prizes provide tangible support for innovative concepts.

For architects and product designers alike, this competition offers lessons on the interconnectedness of disciplines and the shared responsibility of shaping environments—whether through buildings, objects, or tools. As the 2026 edition unfolds, it will no doubt produce ideas that challenge conventions, inspire industries, and redefine what design means for society. The ripples of HAMON are set to extend far beyond the competition, influencing how we live, work, and learn in the years to come.

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