German Design Council and Japan Institute of Design Promotion Deepen Collaboration
The German Design Council and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) are stepping up their collaboration. The JDP organises the Good Design Award, one of the most recognised and influential design prizes in the world, and an international counterpart to the German Design Awards. Both institutions are founding members of the World Design Organization (WDO) and share a comparable mission in their respective countries: advancing design as a strategic force in business and society. This partnership is a natural next step.
The collaboration takes concrete shape in the jury of the Good Design Award 2026: Lutz Dietzold, CEO of the German Design Council, joins the judging panel, bringing his expertise to bear on one of the most significant design prizes internationally. The Good Design Award receives more than 5,500 entries each year from over 50 countries.
Naoto Fukusawa bridges both institutions in a particularly meaningful way. The Japanese industrial designer, named German Design Award – Personality of the Year 2026, will be present as guest of honour when the two partners formally sign their cooperation agreement in Tokyo at the end of July.
The partnership sits within a growing global network. Makiko Tsumura, International Director of the JDP, was elected WDO President-Elect in March 2026. Together with the German Design Council, she sends a clear signal: design is a global force – and international collaboration the key to making it count.
Submit to the Good Design Award – deadline 21 May
The Good Design Award is open to companies and designers worldwide. Entries are accepted until 21 May 2026. Full details and registration at: