The Kokuyo Design Awards, (previously) arguably Japan’s most prestigious stationery design award, has been held for almost a quarter of a century now. Organized by 120-year-old stationery firm KOKUYO, the award receives around 1500 entries each year for new products that have not yet been commercialized, with the winning concepts given the opportunity to become real-life products.
For this year’s theme-Hamann: Design that resonates-Designers were asked to present concepts based on their own unique, lived experience, which in turn has the potential to resonate with society. One winner and three merit awards were announced last month.
Grand Prix: “Before the Note” by Hiroki Kannari.
went to the top prize before the noteA deceptively simple but radical rethinking of the notebook. Instead of a finished product, Kannari proposes a “pre-notebook” – a bundle of pages that users can customize themselves by choosing the number of sheets and cover design.
It’s a design that sits between mass production and personalization, reflecting a world where individuality matters more than ever. Instead of buying a notebook, you Complete It—transforming a passive object into an active, personal process.
merit award
Village by Takashi Higashide
This pen series explores something almost invisible: weight. By adjusting just a few grams – without changing the size or material – it reveals how subtly our writing experience can change.
talent of Gram It lies in its sensitivity. It exposes users to sensations they would normally ignore, turning writing into a more conscious, tactile act.
Notebook identified by edges by Yuji Tsukamoto
At first glance, these notebooks look minimalist – plain white covers with cool elegance. But the key detail lies in the colored edges, which allow users to distinguish the notebooks at a glance while maintaining visual cohesion.
It’s a perfect balance of organization and aesthetics. Even better, by coloring only the edges rather than the full cover, the design subtly reduces ink usage – a clear nod to sustainability.
Gradians Diary by Mizuki Igarashi and Rara Takizawa
Traditional planners impose rigid boxes and neatly separated days. gradient diary Rejects that structure completely.
By using a soft gradient instead of lines, it allows users to expand or shrink their writing space depending on their schedule. Tasks can naturally last for several days, which reflects how time really feels – fluid, uneven, and continuous.
Final
Red and White Packing Paper by Tasuku Denno
A honeycomb-structured wrapping material that transforms into decoration, extending the life of gift packaging.
AWAI by Ryoichi Nakamura
A pen that produces faint, blurred lines, encouraging ambiguity and reflection rather than clear certainty.
Overlap by Yohei Oki
A notebook design using intersecting lines and spaces to inspire new ways of thinking and writing
Kasumiyori by Yoshihiro Matsumura
inspired by kasumi (mist), Kasumiyori There is a reading guide and bookmarks that create a sense of depth and ambiguity like looking through a fog, turning reading into a more atmospheric, contemplative experience.
A Glimpse of Inspiration by Nao Momoshi
Created by a copywriter, this pen is designed to help users instantly record sudden bursts of inspiration by casting a subtle spotlight.
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