The grand prize of this year's Good Design Award, which is given to outstanding designs that enrich people's lives and society, was chosen for the efforts of a candy store that makes it easy for everyone to visit and supports children.
More than 1,500 of the more than 5,700 entries were selected for this year's Good Design Award. Mahou no Dashiya Tyrol-do” was selected.
This initiative aims to create a candy shop that anyone can easily visit, and to support children in poverty and loneliness with everyone in the community.
If you buy the currency that can be used at the store for 100 yen in capsule toys, you can buy snacks and eat curry and other light meals.
In addition to regular donations, adults can support the operation through volunteer activities such as storytelling.
Word of mouth spreads, and there are more than 300 customers a day on many days.
Takashi Yoshida, the representative designer of this initiative, said at a press conference, "I started this activity because the place for community ties was weakened, such as the management of the friend's children's cafeteria due to the corona disaster. I hope it will spread as a community activity where not only children but also adults can get together while having fun.”
The Good Design Award, which began in 1957, was initially awarded to "goods" that combine high quality and design, but in recent years, efforts to solve social issues have also been evaluated.