The Japanese company Kokuyo has announced the 2014 call for entries to its Design Awards contest, an annual international event that celebrates the art of product design from the user’s perspective.
The theme of this year’s contest is Next Quality; submissions will focus on stationery and furniture design.
The Grand Prix for 2014 is ¥2,000,000 – almost US$20,000 – and four (4) Merit awards of ¥500,000 each – almost US$5,000 – are available as well. The winning designs may also be selected for further development into commercial products in the future.
The Kokuyo Design Awards began in 2002. Since then, this annual design contest has been responsible for discovering and developing such hit products as the Kadokeshi eraser, the Parakuruno Campus notebook, the Beetle Tip fluorescent highlighter, and the Roll Table.
Last year, this internationally acclaimed contest attracted 1,217 entries from designers representing more than 20 countries.
Submissions will be accepted between 14 April and 30 June 2014.
