What is design? Let’s take a peek at the world spreading through a small Hatena, or question.
Let’s take a pause and look at all the things, people, and events in our daily lives and society...
It is a laboratory to know, feel, and approach design through a simple question.
This time’s theme
University Student Questionnaire
University students tell us what is needed for good design
2025.10.3
Students studying design support the screening for the GOOD DESIGN AWARD. We held a survey of the students who participated in this year’s support team, asking them “What is needed to create good design?” and “What can design do?” In this article, we will introduce some of their answers to the question of what is needed for good design. We gathered candid opinions that are not bound by stereotypes, born from a sincere approach to design.
What is needed for good design...?
The most common responses to the question “What kind of abilities (attitude) do you think are needed to create good design? Please also tell us the reason for your answer” were to “observe” people, objects, and daily life from various perspectives, and to “draw close to” users and society with “empathy.” Many students shared the view that good design did not stop at self-expression, but that its value lay in solving problems for users and society.
In addition, many comments related to the attitude of refusing to give up, using expressions such as “tenacity” and “approaching an issue seriously,” and the ability to keep going, using terms such as “continuing to create” and “continuing to input.” There were also many opinions that emphasized flexibly changing one’s ideas in line with changes in society and thinking outside the box.
An attitude of questioning the present while drawing close to it is required
At the same time as the opinion that “Design is not self-expression,” we saw opinions that valued individuality and original ideas. Some pointed out that looking at society and daily life “with new eyes,” “questioning the present,” and pursuing “unprecedented design” will go on being essential. Reading these, you could sense that an attitude of always questioning the present while staying close to it is required.
From this survey came a series of frank words that were not bound by stereotypes. Each one of them made us think again about what good design is.
In the next article, we will introduce what university students think about the question “What can design do?” Please look forward to it!
journal editorial department
Editing & writing
Editorial team of the web media “.g Good Design journal.” It is planned and managed jointly by the secretariat office of the GOOD DESIGN AWARD and external members in order to explore new possibilities in design.
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