New Perspectives after Winning the GOOD DESIGN AWARD

Joy and Change that Has Occurred since the Award

Many winners expressed their unimaginable joy and enjoyed the achievement of winning the award in the post-award questionnaire. Winning the GOOD DESIGN AWARD can lead to a change in the way each individual looks at design. It can also create a more positive atmosphere for the entire team than before winning the award, and boost motivation for design. Here are some excerpts of their real voices.

Change within the Company

● “Design got a lot of attention within the company. (Design still has a lower position in the company.)” ● “We rebranded our company, and received this award.” ● “I was really happy to receive the award because I felt that the value of the winning work was reconfirmed in the company.” ● “After receiving the award, I received a congratulatory email from CEO.” ● “This has led to an improvement in the internal position of the creative department and in-house designers.” ● “I see that those involved look happy. And people in the company talk to me.”

“A new discovery was made by digging deep again in terms of design as well as functional aspects.” Sharing new perspectives and ideas within the company has led to collaboration with other departments and improved team cohesion.

If you share what you cannot solve, you can expand your idea and improve your design.

Changes Occurring outside the Company and in Business

● “Increase in inquiries” ● “We were able to open an account with a large company that we never expected to do business with.” ● “We were inundated with inquiries from both inside and outside the company. Our public relations department was temporarily overwhelmed.” ● “We received an order within one week of the award exhibition through the EC site from a company that we had not made a sales call to.” ● “We received many inquiries from the media. We were published and televised.” ● “We received inquiries from the Kobe Shimbun and the Yomiuri Shimbun.” ● “Gratitude from the client” ● “Many citizens enjoyed our winning the award. We have contributed to the creation of civic pride.”

Winning the GOOD DESIGN AWARD has the power to expand contact with society beyond our imagination. As it spreads to society, new encounters with diverse people are born. Each encounter leads to the next challenge of design.

Effect of Using G Mark

● “The increase in customer confidence is significant. In particular, opportunities to receive jobs from public organizations such as local governments have increased.” ● “Thanks to the G Mark, there is no need for an explanation about excellence in design to customers.” ● “More people trust us when we exchange business cards.” ● “After all, the instantaneous speed of recognition is different.

G Mark functions as an evaluation that is conveyed without explanation. It is also widely recognized around the world, particularly in Asia, and can have global appeal.

The use of the G Mark on social networking sites, websites, and POPs at trade shows has resulted in more responses than ever before, including those who do not follow SNS and those from outside the industry.

In addition, companies that were thought to be “too specialized to understand” are now recognized as “companies that can take on challenges,” thanks to the G Mark. They are seeing a rise in interest from students.

Conflict and Ingenuity before Application

The application process was not always smooth. The questionnaire also indicated that there were many barriers from the beginning, such as preparing documents and obtaining internal approval.

● The application process was not always smooth. The questionnaire also indicated that there were many barriers from the beginning, such as preparing documents and obtaining internal approval.

● Difficulty of putting ideas into a concise sentence “I had a hard time trying to convey the appeal of the product in short sentences.”

● How to describe intangible services “As the award-winning work was a formless service, it was very difficult to tell what it is.”

● Ways to talk about an unfamiliar field “It was difficult to come up with ways to have the judges understand the field of joint delivery of promotional materials, which usually does not attract attention.”

● Struggles involving the company “It was difficult for us to guide the company’s ways of thinking and proceeding to rebrand our logo and store design.”

● Courage in stepping forward to apply “To overcome the loneliness of the first step.”

How can we make our design easier to understand and reach more people? Some companies hold in-house study sessions to apply. All the teams had difficulty in finding a way for everyone to be involved in application process.

Barriers, Difficulties, and Learning from the Screening and Exhibition

There was plenty of drama on-site before the screening.

● Difficulties in the first exhibition “As it was the first time for us to display for the screening, we had a lot to reflect on.”

● Trouble with exhibits “By mistake, a defective prototype was brought into the exhibition. It was replaced by a commercial product.”

● The struggles of commercializing and delivering to society “It was difficult to commercialize it after it took shape.”

● Difficulty in conveying the background of the design and the thoughts put into the design “To communicate the thoughts to the judges.”

Communicating the design to others gave me the opportunity to take another look at design from the perspective of others. The screening process was not just about submitting documents and products, it was a time to face challenges to translate the team’s expressive power and their pursuit of essence, and the value of design.

The GOOD DESIGN EXHIBITION held in Tokyo Midtown was an opportunity for users to learn about the products. About 3,000 people attended the GOOD DESIGN AWARD ceremony in 2025, which was a great opportunity for many people to discuss design through networking events and presentations.

To the Next Design Leader

Applying takes time and effort. Sometimes you feel lonely. But what we learned from the questionnaire was that the application process itself led to an increase in team awareness and motivation, which changed the environment around them and their company. In addition, the GOOD DESIGN AWARD, which shows different trends from year to year, provides access to the forefront of ever-changing design.

Regardless of whether you win an award, applying for it will give you new perspectives. Your voice may be included in this collection of episodes next year. Why don’t you take the first step?