SFC Students Win 2022 GOOD DESIGN AWARD and GOOD DESIGN NEW HOPE AWARD (Excellence Award)

2022.12.23

"8K Data Visualization [Evolutionary Map of the Novel Coronavirus]," a work by Masaki Yamabe (3rd-year doctoral student, Graduate School of Media and Governance), has won the 2022 GOOD DESIGN AWARD.

Additionally, in the 2022 GOOD DESIGN NEW HOPE AWARD, two works each received an "Excellence Award": "Research on the Construction Process of Architecture-Type Playground Environments" by Daiki Sekiguchi (completed his master's degree at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, enrolled at the time of application), and "Soso-shiki" by three students, Yota Maeda (3rd-year student, Faculty of Policy Management), Kiko Nakazawa (3rd-year student, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies), and Masato Sasaki (2nd-year student, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies).

The GOOD DESIGN AWARD, originating from the Good Design Product Selection System established in 1957, is Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation and promotion movement. For over 55 years, it has been developed as a movement to improve Japanese industry and lifestyle culture through design, with the total number of awards exceeding 39,000. Today, it is a global design award in which many companies and organizations from both Japan and abroad participate. The "G Mark," the symbol of the GOOD DESIGN AWARD, is widely recognized as a symbol of excellent design.

The GOOD DESIGN NEW HOPE AWARD, hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, is an award newly established in 2022. It targets students at vocational schools, universities, and graduate schools who aim to become creators, as well as recent graduates and postgraduates.

This award-winning work is a design that reproduces the "3D Visualization of the Novel Coronavirus Genome Phylogenetic Tree," which was selected for this year's 33rd Visualization Society of Japan Award (Technology Award), using NHK's ultra-high-definition 8K video technology. It was designed as a CG animation for commentary in news programs and for interactive science exhibitions. Regarding COVID-19, which has had a profound impact rarely seen in human history, I believed it was important to see both the global big picture and local phenomena from an everyday perspective simultaneously, rather than just visualizing summarized data. When visualizing complex and massive data for society, it is essential to weave together the perspectives of scientists, journalists, media designers, and engineers. Through the ingenuity of the team, including everyone at NHK, this led to an expression that leverages the unique strength of 8K to display both the whole and the details at the same time. I am also very pleased to have received the evaluation that "such novel visualization not only provides humanity with a new bird's-eye view but also leads to the discovery of unknown problems." I will continue to engage in research on information visualization that connects science and society. (CG credit: ©NHK)

2022 GOOD DESIGN AWARD "8K Data Visualization [Evolutionary Map of the Novel Coronavirus]"

"Soso-shiki"

Yota Maeda (3rd-year student, Faculty of Policy Management)

Kiko Nakazawa (3rd-year student, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)

Masato Sasaki (2nd-year student, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)

Many similar services were launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them have now been discontinued. (I think that was a wise decision...)

We have continued solely out of passion and conviction, so we had no reason to quit, and we are still here today. To be recognized in this way is very encouraging. We will continue to do our best. Thank you. (Yota Maeda)

I am deeply honored to receive such a wonderful award. We started without even knowing how to use software like Illustrator. I believe the energy we put into recklessly building this service with like-minded members during our student days will be a lifelong asset. We will continue to do our best to propose ways to cope with the bereavement of a loved one, which everyone experiences! To everyone who supported us, thank you very much. (Kiko Nakazawa)

I am delighted that the service I started building while on a leave of absence during my second year of university has gradually grown and received such an award.

I think finding interesting companions and immersing oneself in something without worrying about time is a privilege of being a student. I will continue to work hard so that everyone will say, "I hear that service was made by SFC students!" (Masato Sasaki)

"Research on the Construction Process of Architecture-Type Playground Environments"

Daiki Sekiguchi (Completed master's degree, Graduate School of Media and Governance)

I am very pleased that the activities I have been engaged in since my undergraduate years have been recognized in this way. Recently, there was news that a piece of playground equipment was decided to be removed after a child was injured on it. It is expected that regulations (norms) surrounding playground environments will continue to tighten. I believe it will be difficult to halt the current trend of strengthening regulations simply by having architects and designers design the "form" of the playground environment itself, as has been done traditionally. In considering the construction of sustainable playground environments that also offer diversity as play spaces, I believe that the "design of the system," which oversees everything from the creation to the operation of the playground, becomes crucial. In that sense, this award (in the System Design category) makes me feel that the meaning and importance of such system design are being communicated to society, which I find both very encouraging and delightful. I would like to continue my activities.

2022 GOOD DESIGN NEW HOPE AWARD - Award-Winning Works

Source: General Affairs Section, Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office