KOKUYO Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka City / President: Hidekuni Kuroda) has decided to hold the "KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2027," an international product design competition aimed at supporting and co-creating with talented designers, and will begin accepting entries on July 24 (Fri). 1. Overview of "KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2027" The "KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2027" is seeking entries on the theme of "dialogue." This theme focuses on the reciprocal relationship behind excellent design, existing "between creators and users," "between users and products," and "between products and their surrounding environment." This year's theme, "dialogue," seeks unknown ideas and hints in new "interspaces" to expand the possibilities of living, learning, and working. Additionally, the "NEW GENERATION AWARD" will be established again this year. The "NEW GENERATION AWARD" is selected by KOKUYO with expectations for future success, targeting student applicants (from elementary school to graduate school) from all submitted works. KOKUYO believes that curiosity is essential for enriching life. In addition to proposals for the theme, up to 10 outstanding designs that evoke the user's curiosity and hint at an "exciting future" will be selected from the submitted presentation sheets (no physical model review). 2. "KOKUYO DESIGN AWARD 2027" Entry Guidelines (1) Theme: dialogue Between creators and users. Also, between users and products. Between products and their surrounding environment. Behind excellent design lies a reciprocal relationship. When re-examining the relationships surrounding products, The creator's thoughtfulness and the user's imagination resonate. Seek unknown ideas and hints in the new "interspaces" born from this. We await designs that expand the possibilities of living, learning, and working, born from the starting point of "dialogue." (2) Eligibility: Stationery, furniture, and tools for working, learning, and living scenes. (3) Application Period: July 24, 2026 (Fri) - October 7, 202