Application

Candidate Works	We will be accepting a wide range of entries from Japan and overseas that aim to create a design for communication space. We are looking for outstanding spatial design projects from designers, producers, creators, art directors, planners, architects, engineers, educators, researchers, and other people involved in spatial design. The host organizers, Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD) and Japan Design Space Association (DSA), both support the activities of “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the United Nations. This year, a new award “Sustainable Space of the Year” was created to be awarded to projects that contribute to realizing a better sustainable future for everyone. Candidate works are projects that are realized between May 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023.

Candidate Works

We will be accepting a wide range of entries from Japan and overseas that aim to create a design for communication space. We are looking for outstanding spatial design projects from designers, producers, creators, art directors, planners, architects, engineers, educators, researchers, and other people involved in spatial design.
The host organizers, Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD) and Japan Design Space Association (DSA), both support the activities of “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the United Nations. This year, a new award “Sustainable Space of the Year” was created to be awarded to projects that contribute to realizing a better sustainable future for everyone.
Candidate works are projects that are realized between May 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023.

Award Categories	◼️ Group A 01.Exhibition, Promotional space Exposition, Convention, Trade show, Show room, Event, Promotion campaign and others 02.Show window & visual design space Show window, In-store display, Advertisement, Point of purchase advertisement, Signage, Graphic display and others 03.Entertainment & Creative/ Art space Communication space with movie or lighting design, Augmented Reality, digital communication spaces such as OMO, Interactive art, Installation, Monument, Object, Botanical display, Parade, Attraction, Stage direction and others ◼️ Group B 04.Shop space Retail store, Apparel store, Specialty store, Deli/ Food store and others 05.Food space Restaurant, Café, Bar, Japanese restaurant, Food court and others 06.Large retail shopping mall or Multiple retail space Shopping center, Department store, Mall, Outlet store, Stores in station, Entertainment complex, Cinema complex and others 07.Service/ Hospitality space Hotel, Inn, Resort environment, Wedding space, Ceremony hall, Spa/ Beauty salon, fitness club and others ◼️ Group C 08.Museum/ Cultural space Museum, Science museum, Art museum, Archive center, Culture hall, Cultural exchange space, Theater, Concert hall and others 09.Public welfare/ Communication space Sport training facility, Hospital, Clinic, School, Preschool, welfare facility, Factory, Storage, Religious facility, Station building, Airport facility, Library, Hall, Town hall and others 10.Office Space Office, Workspace, Studio, Lobby, Entrance, Meeting room and others 11.Living Space House, Housing complex, Public space of housing complex, Model room, Shared house, Service apartment

Award
Categories

◼️ Group A

01.Exhibition, Promotional space

Exposition, Convention, Trade show, Show room, Event, Promotion campaign and others

02.Show window & visual design space

Show window, In-store display, Advertisement, Point of purchase advertisement, Signage, Graphic display and others

03.Entertainment & Creative/ Art space

Communication space with movie or lighting design, Augmented Reality, digital communication spaces such as OMO, Interactive art, Installation, Monument, Object, Botanical display, Parade, Attraction, Stage direction and others

◼️ Group B

04.Shop space

Retail store, Apparel store, Specialty store, Deli/ Food store and others

05.Food space

Restaurant, Café, Bar, Japanese restaurant, Food court and others

06.Large retail shopping mall or Multiple retail space

Shopping center, Department store, Mall, Outlet store, Stores in station, Entertainment complex, Cinema complex and others

07.Service/ Hospitality space

Hotel, Inn, Resort environment, Wedding space, Ceremony hall, Spa/ Beauty salon, fitness club and others

◼️ Group C

08.Museum/ Cultural space

Museum, Science museum, Art museum, Archive center, Culture hall, Cultural exchange space, Theater, Concert hall and others

09.Public welfare/ Communication space

Sport training facility, Hospital, Clinic, School, Preschool, welfare facility, Factory, Storage, Religious facility, Station building, Airport facility, Library, Hall, Town hall and others

10.Office Space

Office, Workspace, Studio, Lobby, Entrance, Meeting room and others

11.Living Space

House, Housing complex, Public space of housing complex, Model room, Shared house, Service apartment

Award Type	◼️ KUKAN OF THE YEAR 2023 / Nikkei Inc Award * Projects selected from the Gold Prize projects in the Final Round (1 to 3 projects) ◼️ Gold Prize 11 projects (Gold Prize will be selected from each category) ◼️ Silver Prize 11 projects (Silver Prize will be selected from each category) ◼️ Bronze Prize 11 projects (Bronze Prize will be selected from each category) ◼️ Shortlist Projects nominated for the 3rd Round ◼️ Longlist Projects nominated for the 2nd Round ◼️ Sustainable Space of the Year Projects that have outstanding contributions to sustainability

Award Type

◼️ KUKAN OF THE YEAR 2023 / Nikkei Inc Award

* Projects selected from the Gold Prize projects in the Final Round (1 to 3 projects)

◼️ Gold Prize

11 projects (Gold Prize will be selected from each category)

◼️ Silver Prize

11 projects (Silver Prize will be selected from each category)

◼️ Bronze Prize

11 projects (Bronze Prize will be selected from each category)

◼️ Shortlist

Projects nominated for the 3rd Round

◼️ Longlist

Projects nominated for the 2nd Round

◼️ Sustainable Space of the Year

Projects that have outstanding contributions to sustainability

Application Fee	1 project (images only) submitted from within Japan: 23,100 yen 1 project (with supplementary video) from within Japan: 29,700 yen 1 project (images only) from outside Japan: 26,400 yen 1 project (with supplementary video) from outside Japan: 33,000 yen Please pay the application fee by credit card (VISA, Master, JCB) or bank transfer. The bank transfer fee will be the responsibility of the applicant. * The application fee must be paid by Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Application Fee

1 project (images only) submitted from within Japan: 23,100 yen
1 project (with supplementary video) from within Japan: 29,700 yen
1 project (images only) from outside Japan: 26,400 yen
1 project (with supplementary video) from outside Japan: 33,000 yen
Please pay the application fee by credit card (VISA, Master, JCB) or bank transfer.
The bank transfer fee will be the responsibility of the applicant.

* The application fee must be paid by Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Materials to Be Submitted	Image files such as photos, sketches, conceptual drawings, architectural drawings, concepts, etc. jpeg, png, or other bitmap format, up to 1000 pixels on the longest side in either portrait or landscape orientation Up to 1MB per file * You may submit up to 5 images per project. * The name of the applicant or company should not be written on the image file, as it will be considered ineligible and will not be judged. * If text is to be used in images, please use a font size of 18 points or larger.

Materials to Be
Submitted

Image files such as photos, sketches, conceptual drawings, architectural drawings, concepts, etc.
jpeg, png, or other bitmap format, up to 1000 pixels on the longest side in either portrait or landscape orientation
Up to 1MB per file

* You may submit up to 5 images per project.
* The name of the applicant or company should not be written on the image file, as it will be considered ineligible and will not be judged.
* If text is to be used in images, please use a font size of 18 points or larger.

Project Description	Domestic entries should be submitted in Japanese, while overseas entries should be submitted in English. Japanese: Up to 200 characters English: Up to 500 words

Supplementary Videos	The only format that can be submitted with the application form is mp4. Videos should be no longer than 1 minute. (When it is longer than 1 minute, the part after 1 minute will not be considered at all.) The name of the applicant or company should not be included in the video. If names are included, the video will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed. Slideshows of still images or photographs are not eligible for video submissions. Only videos that illustrate the "movement" of the project will be accepted. If the video is less than 15MB in size: Please submit the video data (mp4 format) via the application form. If the video is larger than 15MB: Please send a DVD with your application ID and the title of your project to the following address: H¹O Kanda 503, 41-1, Kandahigashimatsushita-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0042 Kukan Design Award Application Office (inside JDN office)

Supplementary
Videos

The only format that can be submitted with the application form is mp4.
Videos should be no longer than 1 minute. (When it is longer than 1 minute, the part after 1 minute will not be considered at all.)
The name of the applicant or company should not be included in the video. If names are included, the video will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed.
Slideshows of still images or photographs are not eligible for video submissions. Only videos that illustrate the "movement" of the project will be accepted.
If the video is less than 15MB in size: Please submit the video data (mp4 format) via the application form.
If the video is larger than 15MB: Please send a DVD with your application ID and the title of your project to the following address:

H¹O Kanda 503, 41-1, Kandahigashimatsushita-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0042
Kukan Design Award Application Office (inside JDN office)

Schedule

Registration Period	Friday, March 31, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - Monday, May 15, 2023, 11:00 p.m. (JST) * In consideration of the online application system, please complete the registration process within 30 minutes. Please note that it may require time to register your project. As a recommendation, prepare the text before registration and copy and paste it to the application form to shorten the registration time. Please note that if you exceed the time limit, you will not be able to register. * Please note that the online application system will not allow you to change your registration details after they are entered and registered. * Please note that you will not be able to apply after the deadline. * Please transfer the application fee by Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Registration Period

Friday, March 31, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - Monday, May 15, 2023, 11:00 p.m. (JST)

* In consideration of the online application system, please complete the registration process within 30 minutes. Please note that it may require time to register your project.
As a recommendation, prepare the text before registration and copy and paste it to the application form to shorten the registration time. Please note that if you exceed the time limit, you will not be able to register.
* Please note that the online application system will not allow you to change your registration details after they are entered and registered.
* Please note that you will not be able to apply after the deadline.
* Please transfer the application fee by Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Application Form	Group A Group B Group C

Procedures after the 3rd Round	If your project is selected for the Shortlist, presentation boards (two A2-size styrene boards or 7mm-thick Harepane) should be submitted for the 3rd Round, accompanied by pdf data of the presentation boards, high-resolution picture data of the project, and project descriptions in both Japanese and English. * Detailed information will be provided to the relevant applicants. * Participants from outside Japan may send their presentation boards’ data to Kukan Design Award Office. KDA will prepare the presentation boards.

Procedures after
the 3rd Round

If your project is selected for the Shortlist, presentation boards (two A2-size styrene boards or 7mm-thick Harepane) should be submitted for the 3rd Round, accompanied by pdf data of the presentation boards, high-resolution picture data of the project, and project descriptions in both Japanese and English.

* Detailed information will be provided to the relevant applicants.
* Participants from outside Japan may send their presentation boards’ data to Kukan Design Award Office. KDA will prepare the presentation boards.

Publication and Announcement of Results	The results will be posted on this website. The projects on the Shortlist or higher awards will be published in the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan 2024 Displays, Signs & Commercial Spaces (domestic and overseas versions). Part of a project may be omitted if it contains duplicates or a series of works. Applicants are responsible for submitting the required photos and text for the Annual to the designated publisher in a timely manner. The Annual is edited by the Kukan Design Organization Annual Publishing Committee, jointly established by the Japan Design Space Association (DSA), Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD), and Japan Sign Design Association (SDA). Format: Deluxe edition Scheduled Publication: December 2023 Award winners may be requested to provide seminars for the Association. Award winning projects will be exhibited in major cities in Japan. In mid-February 2024, the Japan Kukan Design Award Exhibition 2023 will be held at GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi. In Tuesday, March 12, 2024 – Friday, March 15, 2024, the Japan Kukan Design Award Exhibition 2023 will be held at Japan Shop 2024.

Publication and
Announcement of
Results

The results will be posted on this website.
The projects on the Shortlist or higher awards will be published in the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan 2024 Displays, Signs & Commercial Spaces (domestic and overseas versions).
Part of a project may be omitted if it contains duplicates or a series of works.
Applicants are responsible for submitting the required photos and text for the Annual to the designated publisher in a timely manner.
The Annual is edited by the Kukan Design Organization Annual Publishing Committee, jointly established by the Japan Design Space Association (DSA), Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD), and Japan Sign Design Association (SDA).
Format: Deluxe edition Scheduled Publication: December 2023
Award winners may be requested to provide seminars for the Association.
Award winning projects will be exhibited in major cities in Japan.
In mid-February 2024, the Japan Kukan Design Award Exhibition 2023 will be held at GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi.
In Tuesday, March 12, 2024 – Friday, March 15, 2024, the Japan Kukan Design Award Exhibition 2023 will be held at Japan Shop 2024.

Notes	Approval from owners, clients, and stakeholders must be obtained prior to project submission. This condition applies to all applications. Applicants are responsible for managing project copyright, photo copyright, publishing rights, industrial property rights, etc., and ensuring the necessary procedures prior to submission. KDA Office assumes that the submitted project is not suspected of imitation or plagiarism. KDA Office will not be involved in any mediation or arbitration, in the event of a problem caused by an applicant. Note that the award may be withdrawn even after the judging is completed, in the event KDA identifies significant alteration or intentional processing/modification of the photos and videos of a submitted project. Make sure not to submit the same work more than once. An award winning project may not be published in the Annual, if the applicant does not follow these oversight and procedures. The permission to use photos must be resolved between the applicant and the photographer prior to application. The copyrights of the photos or the like of the projects are reserved by the creator of the products. However, by applying for the awards, the sponsoring associations, the Kukan Design Organization Annual Publishing Committee, and the publisher of the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan shall be granted the rights regarding all materials used in the entries: for publishing in the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan 2024 (both conventional print and electronic versions), other publications, our website, the website of the sponsoring associations, exhibitions, and media/publications affiliated with the associations; and for developing image data DVDs. If permission is not obtained, the publication will be cancelled and the award will be withdrawn. If the “photo credit” field in the application form is blank, it will be deemed that photo credit is unnecessary. The contents of the application guidelines are subject to change for various reasons.

Notes

Approval from owners, clients, and stakeholders must be obtained prior to project submission. This condition applies to all applications.
Applicants are responsible for managing project copyright, photo copyright, publishing rights, industrial property rights, etc., and ensuring the necessary procedures prior to submission.
KDA Office assumes that the submitted project is not suspected of imitation or plagiarism. KDA Office will not be involved in any mediation or arbitration, in the event of a problem caused by an applicant.
Note that the award may be withdrawn even after the judging is completed, in the event KDA identifies significant alteration or intentional processing/modification of the photos and videos of a submitted project.
Make sure not to submit the same work more than once.
An award winning project may not be published in the Annual, if the applicant does not follow these oversight and procedures.
The permission to use photos must be resolved between the applicant and the photographer prior to application.
The copyrights of the photos or the like of the projects are reserved by the creator of the products. However, by applying for the awards, the sponsoring associations, the Kukan Design Organization Annual Publishing Committee, and the publisher of the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan shall be granted the rights regarding all materials used in the entries: for publishing in the Annual of Spatial Design in Japan 2024 (both conventional print and electronic versions), other publications, our website, the website of the sponsoring associations, exhibitions, and media/publications affiliated with the associations; and for developing image data DVDs. If permission is not obtained, the publication will be cancelled and the award will be withdrawn.
If the “photo credit” field in the application form is blank, it will be deemed that photo credit is unnecessary.
The contents of the application guidelines are subject to change for various reasons.

Inquiries about Application	Kukan Design Award Application Office (inside JDN office) kukan@japandesign.ne.jp Office hours: 10:00-17:00 (M-F) Contact us　→ Application Form Group A Application Form Group B Application Form Group C

Judgement Criteria	Contemporary Projects that reflect the needs of the times and bring change to society through their spatial designs, such as projects with expressions that are ahead of the times. Creative Projects that are created with unique ideas and excellent concepts. Social Projects that are highly influential to society with designs that take into account social nature, regional characteristics, and harmony with the environment, and that put strong emphasis on universal design and sustainability. Cultural Projects that convey cultural messages, such as those that capture the history/culture of a country/area, and effectively present objects or events. Well-designed Projects that are well-designed with, for example, a superb aesthetic presentation or novel expression. Innovative Projects that are innovative due to their unforeseen designs or revolutionary ideas. Sustainability Projects that have outstanding contributions to sustainability in addition to progressiveness, creativity and functionality.

Judgement Criteria

Contemporary

Projects that reflect the needs of the times and bring change to society through their spatial designs, such as projects with expressions that are ahead of the times.

Creative

Projects that are created with unique ideas and excellent concepts.

Social

Projects that are highly influential to society with designs that take into account social nature, regional characteristics, and harmony with the environment, and that put strong emphasis on universal design and sustainability.

Cultural

Projects that convey cultural messages, such as those that capture the history/culture of a country/area, and effectively present objects or events.

Well-designed

Projects that are well-designed with, for example, a superb aesthetic presentation or novel expression.

Innovative

Projects that are innovative due to their unforeseen designs or revolutionary ideas.

Sustainability

Projects that have outstanding contributions to sustainability in addition to progressiveness, creativity and functionality.

The judgement criteria for the Sustainable Space of the Year	Projects that edify and promote activities that lead to the elements constituting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through spatial design. Projects that have spatial design concepts that lead to promoting activities in the next 15 years related to the crucially important fields, such as humanity, wealth, earth, peace, and partnership, while according with the main three elements (economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection) for achieving the sustainable development. * Please refer to the webpage below for SDGs. United Nations Information Centre Homepage

The judgement
criteria for the
Sustainable Space
of the Year

Projects that edify and promote activities that lead to the elements constituting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through spatial design.
Projects that have spatial design concepts that lead to promoting activities in the next 15 years related to the crucially important fields, such as humanity, wealth, earth, peace, and partnership, while according with the main three elements (economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection) for achieving the sustainable development.

* Please refer to the webpage below for SDGs.
United Nations Information Centre Homepage

Judgment Method	◼️ 1st Round The judges will be experts from the Japan Design Space Association (DSA) and Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD). All submitted projects will be judged online. Projects for the Longlist (projects that have passed the first screening) will be selected from all submitted works. The results will be emailed to all applicants, and posted on our website (scheduled for mid-June). ◼️ 2nd Round The judges will be experts from the Japan Design Space Association (DSA) and Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD), as well as the association’s judges recommended by the chairman and vice chairman of the award committee. The projects on the Longlist will be judged online. About ten projects from each of the 11 categories will be selected for the Shortlist (projects that pass the second screening). The results will be emailed to all applicants on the Longlist, and posted on our website (scheduled in early July). The applicants on the Shortlist will submit presentation boards (two A2-size boards) for the 3rd Round, pdf data of the presentation boards, high-resolution picture data of the project, and project descriptions in both Japanese and English. * Detailed information will be provided to the relevant applicants. ◼️ 3rd Round (open to public) The judging process will be live streamed. The 3rd Round will be closed to the public, and GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE PRIZEs will be selected from each of the 11 categories. The results will be emailed to all applicants on the Shortlist and posted on our website (scheduled in early September). ◼️ Final Round (closed to the public) One to three projects will be selected as the KUKAN OF THE YEAR 2023/Nikkei Inc Award from the 11 GOLD PRIZE winners. The announcement will be made at the award ceremony (Scheduled for Friday, October 20). 3rd Round and Final Round meetings: August 26, 2023 (Sat.) Venue: Tokyo Design Center *3rd Round meeting will be live streamed.

Judgment Method

◼️ 1st Round

The judges will be experts from the Japan Design Space Association (DSA) and Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD).
All submitted projects will be judged online.
Projects for the Longlist (projects that have passed the first screening) will be selected from all submitted works.
The results will be emailed to all applicants, and posted on our website (scheduled for mid-June).

◼️ 2nd Round

The judges will be experts from the Japan Design Space Association (DSA) and Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD), as well as the association’s judges recommended by the chairman and vice chairman of the award committee.
The projects on the Longlist will be judged online.
About ten projects from each of the 11 categories will be selected for the Shortlist (projects that pass the second screening).
The results will be emailed to all applicants on the Longlist, and posted on our website (scheduled in early July).
The applicants on the Shortlist will submit presentation boards (two A2-size boards) for the 3rd Round, pdf data of the presentation boards, high-resolution picture data of the project, and project descriptions in both Japanese and English.
* Detailed information will be provided to the relevant applicants.

◼️ 3rd Round (open to public)

The judging process will be live streamed.
The 3rd Round will be closed to the public, and GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE PRIZEs will be selected from each of the 11 categories.
The results will be emailed to all applicants on the Shortlist and posted on our website (scheduled in early September).

◼️ Final Round (closed to the public)

One to three projects will be selected as the KUKAN OF THE YEAR 2023/Nikkei Inc Award from the 11 GOLD PRIZE winners.
The announcement will be made at the award ceremony (Scheduled for Friday, October 20).

3rd Round and Final Round meetings: August 26, 2023 (Sat.)

Venue: Tokyo Design Center
*3rd Round meeting will be live streamed.

The judgement procedure for the Sustainable Space of the Year	We will confirm your intention for entering the Sustainable Space of the Year at the time of application. (Entrance is the same as the normal application) In addition to the existing judging criteria, the juries will examine the design concept that paid extra attention to sustainability. You may use one of the five files to describe your idea for the Sustainable Space of the Year. The first round judgement for the general award also works for the Sustainable Space of the Year. Candidates will be selected from the Longlist. The final decision will be made by the juries of the association. The Sustainable Space of the Year will be announced in the third round judgement.

The judgement
procedure for the
Sustainable Space
of the Year

We will confirm your intention for entering the Sustainable Space of the Year at the time of application. (Entrance is the same as the normal application)
In addition to the existing judging criteria, the juries will examine the design concept that paid extra attention to sustainability. You may use one of the five files to describe your idea for the Sustainable Space of the Year.
The first round judgement for the general award also works for the Sustainable Space of the Year. Candidates will be selected from the Longlist.
The final decision will be made by the juries of the association.
The Sustainable Space of the Year will be announced in the third round judgement.

Application Guidelines