What are the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARDS?
The KOKUYO DESIGN AWARDS is a competition to attract beautifully functional product designs, taking the best of the best to the actual consumer market.
Last year, we received a total of 1,659 entries from product designers in more than 41 countries,
including Japan (1,232 from Japan; 427 from overseas).
This level of interest shows just how much the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARDS has grown as an international product design competition.
Past awards winners have included hit products like the kadokeshi (eraser),
the Campus Note Paracuruno (notebook), the Beetle Tip (highlighter pen), and the Wagomu (rubber band).
We are looking for any and all ideas to turn into actual products.
Be sure to submit your design for the KOKUYO DESIGN AWARDS 2016.
Theme
We are inundated with so many things in this modern age.
We may wonder what we really need.
The time has come for us to think in a new way.
Before getting something new we need to stop and think whether that thing is really necessary for our lives or way of life.
This also means rethinking the actual act of living.
It is the same for those making something. You can create something only after contemplating your own way of life or living.
These things may give the people using them some ideas for a new way of life or living.
We are looking forward to seeing designs that have been created by ideas about how to live.
Eligible entries
Items used in our everyday lives, such as stationery, furniture or household goods
*It is in no way limited to a proposal for a single item. Works composed of a combination of a number of products are also acceptable.
Eligibility
- Corporations, organizations, individuals, and group are all welcome, regardless of age, sex, professional background, or nationality.
- Entry eligibility is limited to those designs never before shown publicly (in Japan, other countries).
- Persons able to present at final judging (secondary judging). (November 30, 2016) in Tokyo.
* The contest organizer will pay expenses incurred by participants for travel and lodging (up to two individuals for group entries).
Number of submissions allowed
Unliminited.
Prizes
- Grand Priz (One from all entries-2.000.000 yen)
- Merit Award (Three from all entries 500.000 yen)
Special prizes (Ex. Combination Prize) may be awarded.
* Not all prizes may be awarded for all categories if there is no winner selected.
* Prize money will be paid net of withholding tax, surtax for reconstruction funding, and other applicable deductions.
Judges
Kashiwa Sato (SAMURAI Co., Ltd. Representative / Art Director, Creative Director)
Yasuhiro Suzuki (Artist)
Kinya Tagawa (takram design engineering Representative / Design Engineer)
Ryosuke Uehara (KIGI Representative / Art Director, Creative Director)
Yoshie Watanabe (KIGI / Art Director, Designer)
Akihiro Kuroda（KOKUYO Co., Ltd. Representative Director of the Board, Chairman）
Judging criteria
1. Something compatible with the theme
2. Not a product but an idea for a way of life or living (a scene)
3. Something that has a beautiful form
4. Something that has a function
5. Something that is novel or innovative
6. Something that could be commercialized as a product
Commercialial development of winning entries
Prize-winning designs may be adapted into commercial products. Winners may be asked to participate in meetings to assess the commercial viability of their products. More information will be provided to relevant individuals at a later date.
Entry terms and conditions
•Submissions must be the original work of the entrant. Submissions cannot have been made public (in Japan or overseas) before or concurrent to this contest.
•Submitted works cannot have been entered into other competitions. Submissions may not be displayed publicly without the agreement of the contest organizer.
•Worldwide rights related to patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, or copyrights (including rights specified in Article 27 and 28 of the Copyright Act of Japan) for winning submissions shall reside with the contest organizer for any works selected for awards (winning submissions). The entrant agrees not to exercise his/her rights to such works for winning submissions. Payment for the transfer of said rights from the entrant to the contest organizer shall be deemed as made in the form of contest prize money.
•All rights (intellectual property rights, etc.) and obligations related to works not selected for awards shall, as a rule, reside with the related entrant.
•The contest organizer recommends all entrants take steps to protect their rights as necessary.
•An award given to any winning submitted work with the same (or very similar) design as an article made public may be withdrawn at any time, even after winners have been announced. The foregoing also applies to any submitted works that infringe on the intellectual property rights of a third party, either prior to, concurrent with, or subsequent to submission.
•The contest organizer may ask entrants questions about their works during the judging process or in connection with product commercialization.
•The contest organizer shall make decisions related to matters not addressed by contest rules. Entrants not agreeing to decisions may withdraw their entry.
•The organizer shall not be held responsible for any expenses incurred with the entry of works withdrawn. The contest organizer will exercise due care in the handling and transportation of works submitted. However, the contest organizer shall not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from natural disasters or other unexpected events.
•Works (including Presentation Sheets and Models) submitted shall belong to the contest organizer and shall not be returned. The contest organizer retains all rights related to contest exhibition or publication of submitted Works.
•Winning Works adapted into commercial products may be altered (in whole or in part) as deemed necessary.
•Minors must have a parent or guardian sign a letter of consent before prizes may be given.
Privacy Policy
Personal information received from entrants will be managed according to the "Personal Information Protection Policy" of KOKUYO Co., Ltd. and of AXIS Inc. which serves as the managing office for this contest. Personal information will only be used for the purposes of running this contest, for sending information, for related requests, and for statistical analysis. Non-identifiable person information may be shared with group companies.
For more information press "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.kokuyo.com/en/award/