KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2027

Global product design competition by KOKUYO for stationery, furniture, and daily tools under “Dialogue,” requiring original proposals; deadline 7 October 2026; Grand Prix: JPY 2,000,000.

Essential Data

About the Competition

KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD is an international platform for product ideas that may develop into real manufactured items. The 2027 edition marks the award’s twenty-fifth anniversary. According to the published announcement, more than 20 products have emerged from past editions. This year’s theme, “Dialogue,” focuses on reciprocal relationships: between makers and users, between users and objects, and between objects and their surroundings. The stated aim is to reconsider the space and exchange around an object, using design to uncover new ways of living, learning, and working rather than treating the brief as a purely formal exercise.

What is required?

Entrants are asked to propose an original stationery item, piece of furniture, or tool used in work, learning, or everyday life. The submission must be the applicant’s own work and must not have been publicly released in Japan or elsewhere before or during the competition period. The jury will assess three published criteria: whether the idea reflects the entrant’s distinct perspective, whether it engages a social issue, and whether it has realistic production potential. The brief allows wide freedom in product type and expression, but that freedom is tied to originality, relevance, and feasibility.

Submission Materials

Note for entrants: the organizer states that the detailed submission guidelines for the 2027 edition will be published on 24 July 2026, and that some guidelines currently visible on the website belong to the previous cycle.

Important Dates

Prizes

Prize money is paid in Japanese yen after applicable taxes. The organizer states that some awards may not be granted. The New Generation Award is selected separately by KOKUYO from student entries, from elementary school through graduate school.

Jury

Shugo Kishino — Art Director and Graphic Designer
Gen Suzuki — Product Designer
Nao Tamura — Designer
Kunihiko Morinaga — Designer
Satoshi Yoshiizumi — Founder of TAKT PROJECT and Designer
Hidekuni Kuroda — Chief Executive Officer, KOKUYO

Yes. The panel combines established independent designers with the company’s top executive, giving it clear professional and production relevance.

Intellectual Property

The published information provided here does not state what happens to copyright, production rights, or usage rights after submission. Treat this as a material issue. Not confirmed — check the official website.

Submission Deadline

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