2008 Good Design Awards: Application Process

The following sets forth important information regarding applications for a Good Design Award. The various sections constituting this information are as follows:

1) Subjects and Applicants Eligible for Entry

1-1. Subjects Eligible for Entry

Subjects eligible for entry are objects or conceptual embodiments close to human activity or in society, and must allow an announcement as a Good Design Award recipient on the Good Design Awards announcement date of October 8, 2008. If an announcement is not possible then, the announcement can be extended until December 31, 2008.
Identical subjects cannot be entered in multiple applications.
Details are provided in the Subjects Eligible for Entry.

1-2. Applicants Eligible for Entry

An applicant may be either the principal implementing business of the subject entry, or the design service business of the subject entry.
The principal implementing business of the subject entry means a corporation or an individual who has the main responsibility in providing the subject entry, such as the manufacturer and distributor of the product, the client of an architected facility, the provider of communications media, the lead sponsor of the business activity, etc.
If multiple principal implementing businesses and design services businesses are involved, the application may be entered in the names of all such parties.
When the design service business enters an application, one of the following conditions must be satisfied:
  • Applying together with the principal implementing business of the subject entry
  • Submitting a letter of consent signed by the principal implementing business to the Organizer no later than the beginning of the second screening
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2) Schedule

2008

May 8 to June 11:

Application acceptance period

June 12 to July 15:

First Screening period

June 18:

Application Confirmation Form submission deadline

July 10:

First Screening fee payment deadline

July 16:

First Screening results notification

July 16 to September 10:

Second Screening period

August 15:

Second Screening fee and Exhibition fee payment deadline

August 20:

Second Screening panel carry-in/inbound receiving

August 21 & 22:

Second Screening panel

August 22-24:

GOOD DESIGN EXPO

August 24:

Second Screening panel carry-out/outbound shipping

September 1-10:

Special Awards screening panel

September 12:

Second Screening results notification

October 8:

Award recipients to be announced

November 6:

Awards Ceremony

November 28:

Yearbook publication fee payment deadline

2009

January:

Yearbook published
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3) Application Procedures

Applicants follow the steps below with respect to entering the Good Design Awards.
Most of the steps are made through the Good Design Awards application website.
Details on the procedures are provided on the website.

3-1. Application to the Good Design Awards

The application acceptance period runs from May 8 to June 11, 2008.
Applicants make entries in accordance with the following steps (1) to (3).

(1) Registration of applicant and subject entry

The applicant registers information about the applicant and subject entry through the Good Design Awards application website.

(2) Submission of Application Confirmation Form

The applicant sends the Application Confirmation Form to the Organizer by the Application Confirmation Form submission deadline of June 18.
The Organizer confirms the subject entry upon receipt of the Application Confirmation Form.

(3) Payment of First Screening fee

The Organizer sends an invoice for the First Screening fee (10,000 yen for each subject entry) to the applicant, upon confirmation of the subject entry (entries).
The applicant remits payment for the First Screening fee to the Organizer by the First Screening fee payment deadline on July 10.

3-2. Procedure after First Screening through the Second Screening

The Organizer notifies the First Screening results on July 16 to respective applicants through the Good Design Awards website, after the First Screening is completed. The First Screening results notice is also sent out.
Applicants take the following steps for subject entries that pass the First Screening (entries eligible for the Second Screening).

(1) Confirmation of exhibition method

Applicants confirm the necessary space and exhibition format at the Second Screening Panel and GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair for the entries in the Second Screening (July 16 to 23).
Details are provided under Exhibition Information.

(2) Confirmation of information release

Applicants confirm the information for entries in the Second Screening to be released through the GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair and the website (July 16 to 23).

(3) Payment of Second Screening fee and Exhibition fee

The Organizer sends an invoice for the Second Screening fee (50,000 yen for each subject entry) and Exhibition fee to the applicant, upon confirmation of the exhibition format.
The applicant remits payment for the Second Screening fee and Exhibition fee to the Organizer by the Second Screening fee payment deadline on August 15.

3-3. Second Screening Panel, GOOD DESIGN EXPO Fair

The Organizer will host the Second Screening Panel and GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair at the Tokyo Big Sight from August 21 to 24.
The Second Screening involves the actual product, as a general rule.

(1) Exhibition of subject entries

According to the Exhibition Information, the Applicant ships the actual product(s) embodying the subject entry (entries) to and from the venue.

(2) Directions from the Judging Committee

Unless the Judging Committee supplies any special instructions, applicants may not attend the screening panels.
In the event that the judging committee requests an on-site screening or oral screening, the applicant shall respond promptly.

(3) GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair

After the Second Screening is concluded, the Organizer will open the venue to the public, and host the 2008 GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair.
Applicants participate in the GOOD DESIGN EXPO fair by exhibiting their subject entries.

3-4. Procedures after Second Screening Results

(1) Notification of Second Screening results

The Organizer notifies the Second Screening results on September 12 to respective applicants through the Good Design Awards website.
The Organizer subsequently notifies award recipients regarding the judges' awarding comments to subject entries (entries initially advised as receiving a Good Design Award) in late September.

(2) Confirmation of award recipient information, plaque inscription, and yearbook publication data

For subject entries passing the Second Screening (initially advised, awarded entries), applicants confirm award recipient information to be released on the Good Design Awards announcement date (October 8) and plaque inscription information between September 12 and 22, inclusive, and confirm yearbook publication data between October 1 and 8, inclusive.

3-5. Procedures after Announcement

(1) Notification of screening results, award recipient announcement

The Organizer will announce the subject entries receiving the Good Design Awards and Special Awards, except for the Grand Award, at a press conference and through this website on the Good Design Awards announcement date (October 8).
A screening results notice is also sent out to each applicant.

(2) Awards Ceremony

The Organizer will host an Awards Ceremony on November 6 in Mid-Town, Tokyo. At the Awards Ceremony, award recipients will be conferred with commendation certificate. Recipients of Special Awards will be conferred with a commendation certificate for the particular Special Award, and be presented with a trophy.

(3) Publicizing the achievement and using the G Mark

Awarded entries of the Good Design Award and Special Awards can use the G Mark logo attesting to the award, and develop public relations activities and sales promotion activities.
The period of one month following the announcement of Good Design Awards shall be the Good Design Award Campaign Period. During this campaign period, the G Mark usage fees for awarded entries of 2008 Good Design Awards will have no charge.
By employing the G Mark, the Organizer and recipients will jointly aim to enhance the design mindset among consumers and society at large.
Details are provided under G Mark Usage Guide.
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4) Fees Associated with the Good Design Awards

The fees and payment deadlines associated with the Good Design Awards are set forth below. All amounts include taxes.

(1) First Screening fee (due for all subject entries)

10,000 yen for each subject entry
Payment deadline: July 10, 2008

(2) Second Screening fee (due for all entries proceeding to second screening)

50,000 yen for each subject entry in Second Screening, plus Exhibition fee (depends on application content)
Payment deadline: August 15, 2008
The Exhibition fee is a combination of charges for space and exhibiting fixtures used; therefore, the fee depends on the content of the application.
Details are provided under Exhibition Information.
* Information for screening of undisclosed subject entries or on-site screening is provided in 5) Important Notices Concerning Applications.

(3) Yearbook publication fee (all awarded entries)

15,000 yen for each awarded entry
Payment deadline: November 28, 2008
After the yearbook is published, one copy is presented to the award recipient for each awarded entry.

(4) G Mark usage (election)

In order to use the G Mark for sales promotions of an entry receiving a Good Design Award, an application to use the G Mark is necessary annually.

Details are provided under G Mark Usage Guide.

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5) Important Notices Concerning Applications

5-1. Applications for Undisclosed Subject Entries

Undisclosed subject entries may apply, as long as they satisfy the conditions listed in the Principal Guidelines.
A separate screening fee is required for undisclosed subject entries that ask for highly confidential screening.

5-2. Applications for Entries Difficult to Ship to the Venue

For subject entries difficult to display the actual product at the Second Screening venue, such as architected structures, the exhibit shall comprise of profiling illustrative panels (B1 size, portrait, description as applicant desires).

5-3. Withdrawal of Application

During the period after completion of application procedures up until the announcement of awarding, applicants may withdraw any subject entry that cannot continue as a consequence of obligatory reasons.
In these cases, the applicant shall promptly notify the Organizer in writing or via email. Fee payments for cases of withdrawing consist of the following arrangements.

First Screening fee

When the applicant withdraws after the Application Confirmation Form submission deadline of June 18, the Organizer will invoice the First Screening fee.

Second Screening and Exhibition fees

When the applicant withdraws after the exhibition format confirmation deadline of July 23, the Organizer will invoice the Second Screening and Exhibition fees.

5-4. Subject Entries Deemed Impossible for Screening

For reasons relating to inadequate screening capacity, the Judging Committee may determine certain subject entries impossible to screen. In these cases, the Organizer will so advise such applicants, and promptly return all screening fees deposited.

5-5. Screening Fees for Special Screening Work

Screening fees for undisclosed subject entries

Applicants who have undisclosed subject entries for screening shall pay a screening fee of 100,000 yen for such a subject entry, in addition to the regular Second Screening fee.

On-site screening fees

For on-site screening conducted at the request of the Judging Committee, the applicant shall pay 100,000 yen for each subject entry within Japan or 300,000 yen for each subject entry outside Japan, in addition to the regular Second Screening fee. Actual out-of-pocket expenses are paid separately in addition for travel and transportation charges of Judging Committee members and attending secretariat.

5-6. Fee Payments Associated with Good Design Awards

According to the screening phase, the Organizer will send invoices for screening fees. Applicants shall pay these fees by the designated due dates, and cover any bank transfer charges.
If payment by an applicant is delayed, the subject entries concerned may be excluded from judging.