2009 Frontier Design Award: Application Process

The following sets forth important information regarding applications for a Good Design Frontier Design Award (hereinafter called "Frontier Design Award"). The various sections constituting this information are as follows:

1) Purpose of Frontier Design Award

A large role held by design is to illustrate lifestyles of tomorrow and to suggest the pathways that attain those illustrations.
The Frontier Design Award evaluates and advocates products and conceptual embodiments yet to be implemented that suggest near-future lifestyles from perspectives of enabling a sustainable society, and provides an opportunity for us to contemplate the future.

Name of award: Good Design Frontier Design Award
Presentment sponsor: Chairman of Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization

2) Subjects and Applicants Eligible for Frontier Design Award Entry

2-1. Subjects Eligible for Frontier Design Award Entry

Subjects eligible for entry shall be concepts for products and embodiments that suggest near-future lifestyles, yet to be implemented as of the announcement date for award results (October 1, 2009).
In particular, the following subjects are welcomed.
  • Design concepts illustrating desirable products and services for the near future
  • Technology development or testing that forecasts a fundamental resolution to current challenges.
  • Concepts and test projects that eye the construction of new social systems

2-2. Applicants Eligible for Entry

An applicant may be an advocate of the entry, or a person engaged in its design.
An applicant may be a national or local government, corporation engaged as a private enterprise or research or educational institution, or individual who is a technologist, designer, student, etc.

3) Schedule

2009

April 28 to June 10:

Application acceptance period

June 17:

Application Confirmation Form submission deadline

June 18 to July 14:

First Screening period

July 15:

First Screening results notification

July 23 to September 10:

Second Screening period August 26: Second Screening panel carry-in/inbound receiving

August 27 & 28:

Second Screening panel

August 28-30:

Good Design Expo

August 30:

Carry-out/outbound shipping

September 11:

Second Screening results notification

October 1:

Award recipients to be announced

2010

January:

Yearbook published

4) Application Procedures

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

4-1. Application to the Frontier Design Awards

The application acceptance period runs from April 28 until June 10, 2009.
Applicants make entries in accordance with the following steps (1) to (3).

(1) Registration of applicant and entry

The applicant registers information about the applicant and 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 17.
The Organizer confirms the 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 entry) to the applicant, upon confirmation of the entry (entries).
The applicant remits payment for the First Screening fee to the Organizer by the First Screening fee payment deadline on June 30.

4-2. Procedures after the First Screening up until the Second Screening

The Organizer releases the First Screening results on July 15 to respective applicants through the Good Design Awards website. The First Screening results notice is also sent out.
Applicants take the following steps for entries that pass the First Screening (entries eligible for the Second Screening).

(1) Confirmation of exhibition method

Applicants confirm their necessary space and exhibition format at the Second Screening Panel and Good Design Expo for entries advancing to the Second Screening (July 15 to 22).
- Details are provided in Exhibition Information.

(2) Confirmation of information release

Applicants confirm the information to be released through the Good Design Expo and the website (July 15 to 22) for their entries in the Second Screening.

(3) Payment of Second Screening fee and Exhibition fee

The Organizer sends an invoice for the Second Screening fee (50,000 yen for each 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 of August 14.
- Exhibition fee for Frontier Design Award is free for the year of 2009. However, if the applicant exhibit in a special way by applicant’s request, exhibition fee specified in Exhibition Information will be required.

4-3. Second Screening Panel, Good Design Expo Procedures

The Organizer will host the Second Screening Panel and Good Design Expo at the Tokyo Big Sight from August 27 to 30.
The Second Screening involves the actual product, as a general rule.

(1) Exhibition of entries

Based on instructions in Exhibition Information, applicants ship the actual product(s) embodying the 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 panel.
In the event that the Judging Committee requests an on-site screening or oral screening, the applicant shall respond promptly.

(3) Good Design Expo

After the Second Screening is concluded, the Organizer will open the venue to the public, and host the Good Design Expo.
Applicants participate in this fair by exhibiting their entries.

4-4. Procedures after Second Screening Results

(1) Notification of Second Screening results

The Organizer notifies applicants regarding the Second Screening results through the Good Design Awards website (September 11). The Organizer subsequently notifies award recipients regarding the judges' awarding comments for their entries (entries initially advised as receiving a Frontier Design Award).

(2) Confirmation of award recipient information and award certificate inscription

For entries passing the Second Screening (initially advised, awarded entries), applicants confirm between September 11 and 17 award recipient information to be released on the award results announcement date (October 1) and award certificate inscription information.

4-5. Procedures after Announcement

(1) Notification of screening results, award results announcement

The Organizer will announce the award results at a press conference and through this website on the award results announcement date (October 1).
The Organizer will also send final screening results notices to applicants.
The Organizer will confer award recipients with award certificates.

(2) Proclaiming the achievement and using the G Mark

Awarded entries of the Frontier Design Award can employ the G Mark trademark attesting to the award in the development of public relations activities and sales promotion activities.
A period of one month following the announcement of the Good Design Awards shall be the Good Design Award Public Relations Period. During this public relations period, the G Mark usage fees are waived for awarded entries of the current year's Good Design Awards.
The Organizer and recipients will jointly aim to enhance the design mindset among consumers and society at large through active use of the G Mark.
- For Frontier Design Award awarded items, G Mark has to be used together with its award name.
- If the Frontier Design Award awarded item is realized (ex. commercialized), you cannot keep using G Mark to that awarded item. (Please apply to "Good Design Award" again if the item is realized)
- Details are provided in G Mark Usage Guide.

5) Fees Associated with the Frontier Design Awards

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

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

10,000 yen for each entry
Payment deadline: June 30

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

50,000 yen for each entry in Second Screening
Payment deadline: August 14, 2009
* Exhibition fee for Frontier Design Award is free for the year of 2009. However, if the applicant exhibit in a special way by applicant’s request, exhibition fee specified in Exhibition Information will be required.

(3) Yearbook publication fee (all awarded entries)

15,000 yen for each awarded entry
Payment deadline: November 30
- After the yearbook is published, one copy is presented to the award recipient for each awarded entry.

(4) G Mark usage fee (election)

In order to use the G Mark for sales promotions of a winning entry that receives a Frontier Design Award, an application to use the G Mark is required annually. - Details are provided in G Mark Usage Guide.

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

6) Important Notices Concerning Applications

6-1. Applications for Entries Difficult to Ship or Exhibit at the Venue

For entries difficult to exhibit the actual product at the Second Screening venue, such as architected structures, the exhibit shall comprise illustrative overview panels (B1-sized, vertical, descriptive content at discretion of applicant), models, videos, etc.

6-2. Withdrawal of Application

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

  • First Screening fee

    When the applicant withdraws after the Application Confirmation Form submission deadline (June 17), the Organizer will invoice the First Screening fee.

  • Second Screening and Exhibition fees

    When the applicant withdraws after the exhibition format confirmation deadline (July 22), the Organizer will invoice the Second Screening and Exhibition fees.

6-3. Entries Deemed Impossible for Screening

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

6-4. Application by nomination

Juries are able to advise applicants to apply to Frontier Design Award for the items that are not applied to Frontier Design Award. Entries applied by jury's advice are regarded as entries that has passed the first screening and proceed to the second screening.
For entries of "Application by nomination", second screening fee of is 50,000 yen and exhibition fee is free. Yearbook publication fee and G Mark usage fee are specified in "5) Fees Associated with the Frontier Design Awards".

The items not specified in this application process are pursuant to Good Design Award Principal Guidelines, Good Design Award Screening Process, Good Design Award Application Process, and Good Design Award Exhibition Information.