How to Open Up the Future of Local Regions Through “Japanese Regions” x “Creativity”

In today’s world, where connecting with people across the globe has become increasingly accessible, reexamining the value inherent in local regions from an external perspective can lead to new opportunities for resources and value creation. In such moments, AWRD supports next steps through the power of creativity.

By combining regional resources with creativity, AWRD functions as an engine for generating, activating, and communicating new value. As a platform that connects diverse players across a wide range of fields, AWRD has developed more than 50 projects to date.

As a point of connection that brings people together and creates previously unseen value, what possibilities does AWRD hold? Here, we introduce innovation case studies in regional revitalization realized through this service.

This article features projects previously held on AWRD.

HIROSHIMA DESIGN CHALLENGE

With Naoto Fukasawa as Chief Judge, Hiroshima-born design is shared with the world!

Organizer: Hiroshima Prefecture
Total entries: 154 works / 107 teams
Selected: 5 teams
URL: https://awrd.com/award/hiroshima-design-2021

Under the banner of becoming an “innovation-oriented prefecture,” Hiroshima Prefecture launched this project to encourage local businesses to proactively use design and collaborate with creators to develop new products and services. Aiming to create a virtuous cycle of innovation within the prefecture, the project seeks to attract “creative design talent” that serves as a driving force for innovation, and to promote the use of design by a wide range of stakeholders, including local companies and government bodies. Through this, Hiroshima aims to become a “design-filled city” with opportunities for people involved in design to thrive and with an attractive urban environment. With the theme “Design that makes the city ‘peace’,” design ideas responding to challenges set by Hiroshima-based businesses were solicited from across Japan.

Under the review of jurors Naoto Fukasawa, Makoto Tanijiri, Ai Yoshida, and Takahiro Shibata, five design partners were selected. After an approximately three-month development period, the resulting projects under the theme “Design that makes the city ‘peace’” have now been implemented in public spaces throughout Hiroshima’s city center.

YAOYA PROJECT

Creating products that take on the global market together with companies in Yao

Organizer: Yao City
Total submissions: 96 projects
Selected: 8 teams
URL: https://awrd.com/en/award/yaoya-project

A project aimed at showcasing the manufacturing strengths of Yao City, Osaka, to the world. Through co-creation between creators and Yao-based companies—longstanding supporters of Japanese manufacturing that have produced a wide range of household goods and industrial products—the project developed new products. By leveraging accumulated technical expertise and conducting field research both in Japan and overseas, participating companies rediscovered the unique value of their technologies and offerings, with the goal of strengthening the overall brand power of Yao’s industrial sector.

In 2019, Taiwan—chosen for its strong cultural affinity with Japan—served as the stage for an exhibition, positioning the project as a stepping stone toward expansion into Southeast Asia. In 2020, the focus shifted to Japanese manufacturing within the context of new lifestyles emerging in the With-COVID era. After conducting domestic field research, products were developed in response to these changing conditions.

One of the representative works born from this project is the “Silicone Glass” Created through co-creation between a manufacturer specializing in industrial rubber and a creator, the Silicone Glass is a shatterproof rocks glass. It attracted significant media attention and became a widely discussed product.

USIO Design Project

We are recruiting ‘Travel Designers’ to propose new experiences on Ishigaki Island.

Organizer: Ishigaki City Tourism and Culture Division
Total Submissions: 212 proposals
Selected: 10 teams
URL: https://awrd.com/en/award/usio-02

A project aimed at rediscovering and sharing Ishigaki Island’s uniqueness, cultural identity, and the experience of local time on a small island by reinterpreting “travel plans unique to Ishigaki Island” from an external perspective. The jury included Wen-Lung Chen, a creative leader from Taiwan—one of Ishigaki’s neighboring countries—as well as Chiaki Hayashi, CEO of Loftwork. Through an open competition format, participants were invited to propose travel concepts and concrete experiences based on keywords associated with Ishigaki Island.

In the judging process, proposals were evaluated on their novelty as tourism for Ishigaki Island, feasibility, affinity with the island’s culture and people, newsworthiness, and appeal to travelers from neighboring Taiwan—an important market for Ishigaki tourism. From both local and global perspectives, travel plans that could communicate new values of the island were selected, resulting in proposals that offer fresh ways to enjoy Ishigaki Island through culture, landscapes, and unique experiences.

Making an Impact on Communities and Society Through the Power of Creativity

“AWRD” is an open platform that connects the creativity and ideas of individuals with projects from around the world. Through AWRD, companies and society pose bold, thought-provoking challenges to creators, whose creativity generates ideas and solutions that move society forward.

By providing creators with opportunities to thrive, and companies and communities with new value creation, AWRD fosters open collaboration that drives meaningful innovation.

Recommended for those who want to:

Rediscover the unique appeal of their region
Take on new forms of manufacturing by leveraging local resources
Revitalize communities by incorporating fresh, external perspectives

Key features of AWRD

Connecting people to enable the creation of new value
Supporting the planning and design of themes and entire projects tailored to specific challenges
An innovation hub that connects a wide range of professionals, from designers to scientists
A global network of over 30,000 creators worldwide
More than 20 years of expertise in operating creator platforms
A proven track record of over 50 projects with more than 30 organizations
Everything from open calls and judging to result announcements is completed on a single online platform

AWRD is an open call platform for co-creation where companies, local governments, and creators collaborate on diverse themes.

By inviting projects and talent from around the world, it enables initiatives in business development, community co-creation, and startup support through open innovation.

From project design to operational support, AWRD accompanies initiatives every step of the way, fostering co-creation that opens up value to society.

Start with a trial. Why not explore AWRD?

Whether you’re interested in trying out AWRD, requesting a collaboration, or have questions about past projects, feel free to get in touch with us to learn more about the platform.