Nozomi Zama

President of ZA DESIGN Inc., Interior Designer

Over the past three years serving as a judge, I’ve noticed that the trends in submitted works shift each year. In the first year, likely influenced by the pandemic, many pieces focused on introspective themes—dialogues with oneself or with nature. By the second year, the theme expanded from just "wallpaper" to "walls," and we saw a wider range of expressions that broke away from the flat surface, incorporating textures and elements like partitions. It made the judging process even more engaging.
This year, I felt a deepening diversity—not just in the works themselves but also in the creators behind them, as if responding directly to the call of the poster. Especially among the younger participants, many works reflected a strong sense of social awareness and future potential, making this year's judging particularly moving.
Once again, I was reminded that in creative work, it’s not just the background or the story that matters. When the creator’s honest questions, emotions, and confidence are present in the work, it adds depth—and that depth is what truly resonates.
I sincerely hope that this Sangetsu Design Award will continue to recognize such talent and remain a place where future potential is discovered and celebrated.

Chie Morimoto

President of goen°Co.,Ltd., Creative Director / Art Director

This year, I was involved from the very beginning, starting with the creation of the promotional poster. Last year, the theme of the Sangetsu Design Award shifted from “wallpaper” to simply “walls,” and that change sparked a lot of reflection as I worked on the design. I thought deeply about what it means for a wall to separate us—that through that division, the self and the other come into existence. I considered the reasons walls exist, and also the positive potential they might hold.
The message that emerged from this process, “Go beyond the wall that’s different from yesterday,” seemed to resonate strongly with many of the submitted works. A number of them explored communication—standing before a wall and asking, Who do I want to bring happiness to on the other side? I was truly moved by the pieces that answered this question clearly. The “love” and “purity” expressed in such works are things only the creators themselves could have brought into being—something even we as judges could never produce.
Beyond just technical quality, what matters is the birth of new ideas—and I feel that’s exactly what we witnessed this year. It was a truly rewarding judging experience. Thinking that these winning works may inspire the next generation of submissions makes me all the more excited for what’s to come next year.

Hokuto Ando

Co-founder of we+, Associate Professor at Musashino Art University, Designer

During the judging process, the phrase “calculated charm versus refinement” came up—but interestingly, in this year’s Sangetsu Design Award, I found myself less drawn to polished ideas or works that relied solely on visual appeal. In fact, those often felt a bit dull. What stood out more were the raw, unrefined pieces that could only have come from that particular creator. I deeply resonated with concepts that reflected a strong sense of personal ownership and involvement.
Of course, design quality and craftsmanship are important—but what left the strongest impression were the works that had a clear reason why they had to be made by that person. Many of the presentations also went beyond the conventional notion of “walls” and focused instead on how their work could touch people's hearts and generate empathy. Through these presentations, as we dug deeper into each finalist’s piece, there were so many moments of realization—“Ah, so that’s what they were thinking!”—and with those discoveries, I found my own emotions becoming more and more connected to the work. It was a truly fascinating experience.
Going forward, I hope to continue encountering not just refined pieces, but honest, heartfelt designs made for someone else—works that are free of ego, filled with wonder, and genuinely exciting.

Yasumasa Kondo

President and CEO Sangetsu Corporation
* Chairman of Judging Committee

This year’s Sangetsu Design Award received a record-breaking 1,121 entries. Of the 528 submissions actually presented, 35% were from students and 10% were from international participants. There were also entries from individuals with disabilities, one of whom won an award. We hope to see even greater diversity in future Awards.
One of the values I hold dear is "social value." Many of the finalist works were centered around themes that contribute to solving social issues, and I believe this mindset must be incorporated into the processes of corporate activity. In today’s world, where cutthroat competition and greed are rampant, we are often forced to confront these realities in business. Amidst that, encountering works that focus on compassion and empathy toward others was a refreshing and eye-opening experience. I hope this can also serve as an opportunity for all employees to deepen their awareness of social issues.