More Malaysians vie for Gold at Kokuyo Design Awards 2018

When it is about creativity in art and design, Malaysia has no shortage of that; this is a clear reflect of the higher number of entries from its creators for the Kokuyo Design Award. In 2017, only three entries have been from Malaysia. For 2018, there are 25 entries from 18 Malaysian designers.

This is a positive first step, even if Malaysia didn’t take home any wins. As for the other entries, 1,289 entries in total, four have been pick as merit; they stand beside the Grand Prix Winner of this design contest.

“The reason behind this design award is to create products for the customer in mind. After all, this is to showcase the thought process and stories behind these creations. It’s great to know that the it is now being global recognition; at least 40% of the submissions garnered from the overseas market. What we’re seeing for Malaysia, from three to 25, is a reflection of the growing interest for our awards. Moreso, this case rings true from the global community,” said Takeshi Fujiki, Director of the Kokuyo Design Award.

While Malaysian entries didn’t win at the Kokuyo Design Awards 2018, it’s good to recognise and celebrate those that did. As per the listing below, here are the winners:

• Takuma Yamazaki – Sound of Drawing: A concept that allows the drawing experience to become inclusive, even for the visually impaired. The sound of drawing, friction of the pen on paper, is amplified. This is not only enjoyable for the visual sensation but it can also act as a musical instrument. This fresh interpretation of a regular writing device provides a creative experience.
• Soch – Palletballet: This is a painting kid concept that is designed for children. It mimics the shape of toys and enable kids to freely move and utilise these devices to draw and paint. The goal is to let them express themselves without being inhibited.

• Akikhiro Toyofuku – Smart Double Clip: The idea: avoid the pain of dealing with double clips; specifically when there is a need to work with multiple pages of documents. Moreover, to optimise the experience, the new design takes the liberty of making the clips shorter and giving it a tighter angle of grip. These changes allow the experience to be more seamless and comfortable.
• Kunihiko Nakata – Monochrome Notebook: By making the pages monochrome and strongly encouraging the use of black or white pens, this notebook increases reader focus. Of course, this idea, taking inspiration from the user interface of smart devices, keeps the use of colours to a bare minimum.

Text by: Victor Yap