KOKUYO, a 120‑year‑old stationery titan, crowned Before Note by Hiroki Kannari as Grand Prix winner at its 2026 Design Awards. The entry reimagines the notebook as a customizable “pre‑notebook,” letting users choose sheet count and cover design, blending mass production with personal expression.

The awards, drawing nearly 1,500 entries, focused on the theme *hamon: design that resonates*. Gram by Takashi Higashide earned a merit award for its subtle weight adjustments that heighten tactile awareness. Yuji Tsukamoto’s Notebooks Identified by Edges uses colored borders to aid organization while cutting ink use.

Mizuki Igarashi and Rara Takizawa’s Gradience Diary replaces rigid grids with fluid gradients, allowing pages to expand or contract with a user’s schedule. Finalists include Tasuku Denno’s honeycomb packing paper and Ryoichi Nakamura’s pen that encourages ambiguous lines.

These entries demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform everyday stationery into tools that enhance creativity, sustainability, and user engagement.