Selection Criteria

Sociality

Evaluation of the social significance and the effect of the project, such as the harmony with surrounding landscape or environment, and sustainability.

Informativeness

Evaluation of the work if it properly conveys the originator’s intention and provides appropriate communication.

Innovativeness

Evaluation of the work whether there is an unprecedented approach in the idea, the construction or the process.

Aesthetics

Evaluation of the beauty in the form, the material selection and the expression.

*In addition to the 4 items above, the entries should include safety into consideration.

Application fee

Application fee is ¥11,000 (￥10,000 + consumption tax ￥1,000) for each entry. The application fee includes the examination fee for design concept and two image data. If you wish to submit more than one image data, additional examination fee of ¥1,650 (￥1,500 + consumption tax ￥150) is required for each additional image. If you wish to submit video data, an additional examination fee of ¥19,800 (￥18,000 + consumption tax ￥1,800) is required for each entry.
Example: Example:  For 3 images + 1 video: ￥10,000+￥1,500+￥18,000=￥29,500 + 10% consumption tax ￥2,950 = ￥32,450
Applicant is able to edit the information on work entered, add, change or delete images and videos, and edit the parties involved, before payment of the application fee is complete.

What is included in the application fee and additional costs

The application fee covers the screening fee as well as the following costs.

Certificates for winning and shortlisted entries: one for representative for the work and one for the client

Only those registered as associated parties at the time of application may request additional certificates. The fee for each additional certificate is ¥4,400 (¥4,000 + tax ¥400).

Trophies for the Gold Prize, Silver Prize, Guest Judge’s Prize and SDA Judge’s Prize winners: Representative works (1)

Only those registered as associated parties at the time of application may order additional trophies. The cost for an additional trophy is ¥33,000 per trophy (¥30,000 + tax ¥3,000); if the inscription is the same as that on the awarded trophy, the cost is ¥27,500 per trophy (¥25,000 + tax ¥2,500).

Trophy for the Japan Sign Design Award Grand Prize – Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award: Representative works (1)

We are unable to produce additional trophies for the Grand Prize and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.

Catalogue of Works from the 60th Japan Sign Design Award : one for representative for the work and one for the client

Final Selection

You can purchase additional items.
The final judging will take place following preliminary scoring (online), with a panel of judges (comprising the Chair, SDA judges and guest judges: 13 in total) convened to hold a judging session. For the 50 works shortlisted in the second round, discussions will be held to select the Grand Prize, Gold Prize, Silver Prize and Bronze Prize winners, with the final awards determined by consensus.
The judging session will be open to the public. If you wish to attend, please contact the SDA Secretariat.

Award Ceremony

We will send an invitation to the awards ceremony to all prize winners (Grand Prize, Gold Prize, Silver Prize, Bronze Prize, Guest Judge’s Prize and SDA Judge’s Prize). The cost of attending the awards ceremony is included in the entry fee. Please confirm your attendance by the deadline. Details regarding the participation fee for any networking event will be provided alongside the invitation to the awards ceremony.

Publication in the Catalogue of Works and the Yearbook

SDA will publish the *Catalogue of Works from the 60th Japan Sign Design Award*, featuring the winning entries.
In addition, the *Annual of Japanese Spatial Design 2027: Display, Signage and Retail Environments*, which includes all entries that received an award or higher, is scheduled for publication in December 2026.
The ‘Yearbook’ is edited by the Yearbook Publication Committee, comprising Rikuyosha Co., Ltd., the SDA (an organisational body of the Spatial Design Organisation), the Japan Spatial Design Association (DSA), and the Japan Commercial Environment Design Association (JCD), and is published by Rikuyosha Co., Ltd.