About Focused Issues

Focused Issues are activities to consider and recommend new possibilities for design through the Good Design Award screening process.
Every year, several Focused Issues Directors are selected from About 100 Judges. We set the themes that each of us should explore through the screening process of the Good Design Award as “Focused Issues.”
Focused Issues Directors look across their domain (screening units) to see subject entries. Through the screening process, we will explore and summarize our thinking and ultimately present our ideas in the form of recommendations.

One of the important roles of the Good Design Award is to “discover possibilities and issues for future society.” Focused Issues are designed to undertake this role, with a focus on deepening the critical questions that design must face today.

Several Focused Issues Directors are selected from the year’s Judges. Based on the purpose of the activity, each director sets the Focused Issues.

Directors conduct the primary and secondary screenings within their own unit, just like a regular Judge. At the same time, they will observe subject entries across units to reflect on the potential for, and the role and significance of design in future society in line with each of the Focused Issues. They share the progress with respect to the process at the Judging Committee and give opinions on subject entries.
They also participate in the screening of the Special Awards Panel to select Grand Award and grand prize recipients, and continue to consider and share thoughts About each of the Focused Issues.

The Focused Issues Directors’ activities will continue even after the Grand Award is decided. Hearings and interviews are conducted with the winners and experts, who may provide hints to deepen thoughts on each of the Focused Issues. After that, the issues and potential for each of the Focused Issues are summarized and presented as “recommendations.”